Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire has named five people who died in Wednesday’s helicopter crash that claimed the life of flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteki, as more details emerged about the final journey from Chikomba to Harare.
Machakaire identified the victims as Chivayo, Muteki, Senelisiwe Magagula, Captain Kelvin T. Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa, becoming the first official identification of people aboard the aircraft.
Magagula was an aide to Chivayo’s wife, Muteki.
The minister said the five died aboard a Bell 430 helicopter that was flying from Chikomba towards Harare.
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“I write this with a deeply broken heart following the tragic loss of five precious lives aboard the Bell 430 helicopter flight from Chikomba to Harare,” Machakaire said on his X page.
“It is difficult to find words for a tragedy of this magnitude. They left their loved ones never knowing that it would be their final journey.”
The minister said the tragedy had left five families grieving people they expected to return home.
“My heart and deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of Mr Wicknell Chivhayo, Mrs Lucy Chivhayo (née Muteki), Miss Senelisiwe Magagula, Captain Kelvin T Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa,” he said.
“May God hold every grieving family close and give them strength through these darkest hours.”
The government had earlier confirmed there were no survivors in the crash, while police said six people were aboard the aircraft when it went down in Marondera Rural at about 5pm on Wednesday.
Machakaire’s statement names five victims and a security member travelling in a second helicopter with Chivayo’s security team told state broadcaster ZBC that the aircraft carrying Chivayo had five people, that is Chivayo, his wife, Muteki’s aide Magagula and two pilots.
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Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo, who is also Wicknell’s brother, gave a similar account, saying the family had been informed the helicopter was carrying five people.
“The other three were the two pilots and Mr Chivayo’s aide,” Herbert said in an interview at the crash scene.
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The account from one of Chivayo’s security personnel has also provided the first detailed description of what happened in the moments before the crash, although the account has not been independently verified and does not constitute the findings of the aviation investigation.
According to the security member, Chivayo and his entourage had travelled to Gandami in Chikomba on Wednesday using two helicopters.
The security team travelled separately and left Gandami around 4.20pm on the return journey to Harare.
The helicopters were expected to make a stop in Marondera before continuing to the capital.
As they flew back, however, the weather deteriorated.
The security member said the pilots of the two helicopters discussed the weather and the possibility of rerouting.
According to his account, the security helicopter eventually landed in Marondera because of the weather.
He said the pilot of Chivayo’s helicopter reported that was still in a “bad cloud” but subsequently indicated he was taking another route and was about 10 minutes from his destination.
The security team attempted to establish which destination the pilot was referring to but could not get a response.
After landing in Marondera, the security team tried calling the occupants of Chivayo’s helicopter but received no answer.
Believing the helicopter may have been grounded elsewhere because of the weather, the security team proceeded to Harare, where they planned to collect vehicles and return for Chivayo.
It was only after they had reached Harare, the security member said, that they received news a helicopter had crashed and there were no survivors.
“We tried calling them on their phones but there were no answers,” he said.
“We decided to go to Harare and take vehicles. We thought they had landed because of bad weather and were grounded.”
Wicknell’s brother also said the family was informed that the aircraft had encountered a heavy cloud while travelling from Gandami.
According to his account, the second helicopter carrying Chivayo’s security team managed to land in Marondera after encountering the weather conditions, while the helicopter carrying Chivayo continued towards Harare.
Herbert said the family later received information that people in the area had witnessed the helicopter falling and catching fire.
“They said they saw it falling and turning and found it on fire,” he said.
Emergency services, police and aviation officials subsequently attended the scene, which was cordoned off as investigators began examining the wreckage.
The family spokesperson described the recovery operation as extremely difficult because of the condition of the bodies.
His account indicated some remains were recovered in separate pieces around the crash site.
Meanwhile, the youth minister described the five victims as people whose deaths had left their families facing an unimaginable loss.
“Life can be painfully fragile and unpredictable. Today five families are carrying a pain that words cannot adequately describe,” Machakaire said.
“Gone too soon. May their souls rest in eternal peace and may their memories forever live in the hearts of those who loved them.”
Forensic experts and aviation investigators were deployed to the crash site on Thursday as authorities began work to establish what caused the helicopter to go down.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Director-General, George Mashababe, were among officials who visited the site.
Mashababe said preliminary observations indicated the helicopter had struck the ground, causing fuel to spill and ignite, but stressed that investigations were continuing.
The crash occurred at about 5pm near Waddilove Mission in Marondera Rural, about 70 kilometres east of Harare.
The investigation is continuing.
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