Marondera: A helicopter carrying six people crashed in rural Zimbabwe on Wednesday, killing everyone aboard, according to officials. Prominent businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among those reported dead.
The helicopter came down in the Marondera district, southeast of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, at about 5 pm local time on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said there were no survivors, while police and emergency responders went to the crash site.
The identities of the victims were initially withheld as authorities worked to identify the remains. The crash caused a fire, making the identification process more difficult. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa later confirmed that Chivayo was among those killed. State broadcaster ZBC, citing a family spokesperson, also reported that Chivayo’s wife was among the victims.
Six people killed in Marondera crash
Zimbabwean authorities said the helicopter had six occupants, including four passengers and two crew members.
Mangwana said emergency services had been dispatched to the crash site after the aircraft went down. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the people on board had been badly burned in the resulting fire and that authorities were working to establish their identities.
“Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash,” Mangwana said in a statement posted on X.
Police initially refrained from naming the victims and said further information would be released once the identification process was completed.
The cause of the crash has not been established. Authorities are expected to investigate the aircraft, the circumstances before the accident and the events that led to the fatal crash.
Wicknell Chivayo among those killed
Chivayo, 43, was one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent and publicly visible businessmen.
His death was first reported by Zimbabwean state media, citing a family representative, before President Mnangagwa confirmed that Chivayo had died in the crash. His wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, was also reported to have been among those killed.
Chivayo was particularly well known for his close relationship with Mnangagwa and his public interactions with political figures across Africa. He frequently shared photographs and videos of meetings and private events involving regional leaders.
His social media accounts also showcased an extravagant lifestyle, including luxury vehicles and other expensive possessions.
Chivayo became known for giving vehicles, money and other gifts to celebrities, church leaders, politicians and social media followers. His public profile made him a familiar figure beyond Zimbabwe’s business circles.
Business career attracted scrutiny
Alongside his wealth and political connections, Chivayo’s business dealings had attracted scrutiny over the years.
He was associated with Intratrek Zimbabwe, which became involved in a major government-linked solar power project in Gwanda. The project and the company’s dealings with state entities became the subject of legal and political controversy.
Chivayo and his companies have also faced allegations concerning public procurement and election-related financing. He denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.
His public relationship with Zimbabwe’s political establishment was another recurring subject of discussion, particularly because of his appearances with senior officials and prominent political figures.
The Associated Press described Chivayo as a close ally of President Mnangagwa and noted that his business and political activities had previously attracted scrutiny.
Links with regional leaders
Chivayo’s public profile extended beyond Zimbabwe.
He frequently posted about meetings and social engagements with prominent African leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini’s King Mswati III.
These relationships contributed to his visibility across the region, although personal meetings and photographs do not by themselves establish official government or business arrangements.
Following the crash, tributes began to emerge from figures who knew Chivayo personally. Ruto, for example, described Chivayo as a friend and expressed condolences following his death.
Wife Lucy Muteke also reported dead
Chivayo’s wife, Lucy Muteke, was also identified by family sources as one of the victims.
Muteke was known publicly as “Lulu” and had a social media presence of her own. Reports said she and Chivayo had married in 2025.
Their reported deaths came after authorities had initially declined to release the names of the people aboard the helicopter, as the victims had to be formally identified.
The crash therefore unfolded in stages, with officials first confirming the fatal accident and the absence of survivors before the identities of some of those aboard emerged through family and government statements.
Investigation into crash begins
The cause of the accident remains unknown.
Emergency responders and police were sent to the crash site after the helicopter went down in the Marondera area. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft and available flight information as part of efforts to establish what happened.
The early reports also contained some inconsistency in descriptions of the number of people aboard. Police and subsequent reports identified six occupants, consisting of four passengers and two crew members. Reuters reported that an early government statement had described the aircraft as carrying a high-profile businessman, four other passengers and two pilots, creating an initial discrepancy in the reporting.
The formal identification of all victims and the investigation into the crash are expected to provide further details.
A major loss for Zimbabwe’s business community
Chivayo’s death brings an abrupt end to the life of one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable businessmen, whose wealth, political relationships and social media presence had made him a prominent public figure.
His death, along with that of his wife and four other people aboard the helicopter, has drawn widespread attention in Zimbabwe.
For now, authorities are focused on identifying all the victims and determining what caused the aircraft to crash. The investigation will be crucial in establishing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and whether any mechanical, operational or other factors contributed to the accident.
As Zimbabwe mourns those killed, further official information is expected to clarify the identities of the remaining victims and the circumstances of the Marondera helicopter crash.