A helicopter carrying six occupants crashed in a rural area near Marondera, approximately 70 kilometers east of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, on Wednesday evening, killing all on board. The aircraft was traveling from Gandami in Chikomba, where businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke were overseeing construction of a residential property. The helicopter came down at Kudenga Farm roughly 40 minutes after takeoff. Police commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the crash occurred at approximately 17:00 local time and noted that two of the six occupants were pilots. The cause of the accident remained under investigation.
Chivayo, who managed Intratrek Zimbabwe, was a prominent figure in the country known for his high-profile business dealings and connections with political leaders across Africa. He held the position of managing director at his firm and oversaw various government contracts, including a $172 million solar energy project in Gwanda awarded by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company. His business ventures had drawn scrutiny over the years, though authorities closed an investigation in 2025 related to election procurement matters without establishing wrongdoing.
Beyond his business activities, Chivayo cultivated a public presence through philanthropic gestures and displays of wealth on social media platforms. He became known for distributing luxury vehicles and substantial monetary gifts to musicians, religious figures and public personalities. His social circles extended throughout the continent, and he frequently publicized meetings with prominent African leaders including Kenya’s President William Ruto, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilela, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini’s King Mswati III. Following confirmation of his death, President Ruto released a statement describing Chivayo as a valued friend and expressing condolences to the families affected by the crash.
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