Zimbabweans were left stunned on Wednesday evening following the reported death of flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, in a helicopter crash in Marondera.
The crash occurred at about 5pm, with the government later confirming that there were no survivors among the six people aboard the aircraft.
Although authorities had not initially released the names of the victims, family members and multiple local media reports identified Chivayo and Muteke among those killed.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the fatal crash on Wednesday evening, saying the aircraft was carrying a high-profile businessman, three other passengers and two pilots.
On this topic
“The government wishes to confirm that a helicopter crash has occurred, involving one high-profile businessman, three other passengers, and two pilots,” Mangwana said.
“Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash.”
Police had earlier confirmed that an aircraft had crashed in the Marondera Rural area at about 5pm.
“The ZRP confirms a plane crash in Marondera Rural area at 1700 hours this evening. The aircraft had six occupants. More details will be released in due course as the scene is currently being attended,” police said.
By Wednesday night, authorities had not released the names of all the victims or disclosed the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The cause of the accident, the aircraft’s departure point and its intended destination also remained unclear as emergency teams attended the crash site.
Chivayo’s reported death brings to an abrupt end the life of one of Zimbabwe’s most conspicuous and controversial public figures, whose name had become synonymous with extraordinary displays of wealth, expensive cars, large cash gifts and a highly visible social media presence.
For years, Chivayo cultivated a public persona built around conspicuous generosity.
He routinely announced gifts of expensive vehicles and large sums of money to musicians, religious figures, football personalities and other public figures, often publicising the gestures on social media.
His death came on a day when he had once again been making headlines for his extraordinary generosity.
On Wednesday morning, just hours before the crash, Chivayo announced gifts to two lawyers whom he said had supported him for decades.
According to reports, senior lawyer Wilson Tatenda Manase was to receive a new 2026 Lexus GX 550, valued at about US$220,000, together with US$250,000 in cash.
Advocate Sylvester Hashiti was to receive a new 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography and US$500,000 in cash.
The combined value of the vehicles and cash was about US$1.47 million.
Chivayo described Manase and Hashiti as more than legal advisers, referring to them as mentors, brothers, trusted confidants and lifelong friends.
The gifts were announced just days after another prominent lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, rejected an earlier offer from Chivayo of a new 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography and US$100,000 in cash.
Chivayo subsequently said there was “no fight, no grudge and no drama” between the two men.
Business and controversy
Chivayo’s rise to prominence was closely intertwined with Zimbabwe’s controversial public procurement and business landscape.
He became widely known through his company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, and the long-running Gwanda Solar Project, a 100-megawatt solar project that attracted considerable public scrutiny.
In 2023, Chivayo and Intratrek were acquitted of charges arising from allegations that they had defrauded the Zimbabwe Power Company of US$5.8 million.
The Harare magistrate ruled that the State had failed to establish the charges, and the two were acquitted.
Despite the controversies surrounding his business dealings, Chivayo’s public profile expanded dramatically as he increasingly presented himself as a wealthy businessman and philanthropist.
Access to African leaders
Beyond Zimbabwe, Chivayo attracted attention for his apparent access to some of Africa’s most powerful political figures.
He was photographed and publicly documented meeting a number of African presidents, including Kenya’s William Ruto, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema.
He was also reported to have met Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu, Malawi’s Peter Mutharika and Lazarus Chakwera, and Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo.
His meetings with African leaders were often showcased on social media, where he posted photographs from State Houses and other official settings.
The repeated appearances alongside presidents became part of his public image and fuelled questions about the extent of his political and business connections across the continent.
The businessman’s social media empire
Chivayo became a familiar figure on social media, where he showcased luxury cars, expensive clothing, holidays and multimillion-dollar transactions.
His gifts became particularly notable.
He donated expensive vehicles to public figures and organisations and handed out large sums of money, sometimes linking the gifts to birthdays, musical performances, sporting achievements or personal relationships.
Earlier this month, for example, he offered musician Taruvinga Manjokota, popularly known as Sugar Sugar, a new 2026 Toyota Fortuner and US$10,000 in fuel money after praising his song “Todya Mudododo”.
His extraordinary spending also extended to religious figures.
He previously gave the late apostolic church leader Paul Mwazha a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 ZX and US$107,000 in cash for his 107th birthday.
Chivayo became particularly adept at turning personal acts of generosity into public spectacles, announcing gifts in highly stylised posts that frequently generated thousands of reactions online.
A polarising figure
Chivayo’s flamboyant lifestyle made him both a celebrity and a deeply polarising figure.
Supporters portrayed him as a generous businessman who used his wealth to help individuals and institutions.
Critics, however, repeatedly questioned the sources of his wealth, his political connections and his proximity to powerful figures.
His business career also repeatedly intersected with politically sensitive public projects, making him a subject of intense public debate.
Yet his social media persona often overshadowed those controversies.
His reported death therefore triggered an extraordinary reaction across Zimbabwe’s social media landscape, with disbelief spreading within minutes of reports of the crash.
The news was initially accompanied by uncertainty over whether Chivayo was among those aboard the aircraft.
That uncertainty was followed by the government’s confirmation that a high-profile businessman had died in the crash, while family members and multiple media organisations subsequently identified Chivayo and Muteke among the victims.
Questions remain
For now, major questions surrounding the crash remain unanswered.
Authorities have not said what caused the helicopter to go down, where it had taken off from or where it was headed.
The identities of the remaining victims had also not been formally released by police by Wednesday night.
The government extended its condolences to the families and friends of those who died.
“We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the victims, their families, and their friends during this difficult time,” Mangwana said.
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