₦airaland Forum

Wicknell Chivayo was one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent and controversial businessmen, known as much for his lavish lifestyle and political connections as for the government contracts that helped build his business empire.

Chivayo, 43, died on Wednesday alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, and four others after a helicopter carrying six people crashed in Marondera, about 70km east of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. Police said there were no survivors.

Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths to Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster ZBC, while government officials said two of the six people on board were pilots. The cause of the crash remained unknown, with investigations under way.

From business deals to the public spotlight
Chivayo was the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company that became closely associated with major government projects, including a $172 million solar power project in Gwanda awarded by the state owned Zimbabwe Power Company.

The project became the subject of years of legal disputes and scrutiny. Chivayo was arrested in 2018 over the alleged misuse of a $5.6 million advance payment linked to the project. A magistrate later struck the case off the court roll in 2023, citing delays by prosecutors.

Chivayo denied allegations of wrongdoing connected to his business dealings.

His business interests also brought him into the telecommunications sector. In 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described Chivayo’s company as Starlink’s exclusive partner in Zimbabwe. The country’s telecommunications regulator later clarified that the company was one of several approved resellers.

Chivayo also attracted scrutiny over the procurement of election materials for Zimbabwe’s disputed 2023 elections. The country’s anti corruption commission investigated allegations involving contracts awarded to South African company Ren Form but closed the inquiry in 2025, saying it found no evidence linking Chivayo or the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to wrongdoing.

The billionaire known as Sir Wicknell
Beyond his business interests, Chivayo built a huge following through social media, where he regularly displayed expensive cars, private aircraft, luxury travel and large cash gifts.

He was widely known as “Sir Wicknell”, although he had never received a British knighthood. He became particularly well known for giving luxury vehicles and large sums of money to musicians, religious leaders and other public figures.

The displays of wealth made him a prominent figure in Zimbabwe’s popular culture and generated considerable public debate about the source of his fortune and his access to political and business leaders.

His influence also extended beyond Zimbabwe. Chivayo frequently shared photographs of himself with African heads of state, including Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini’s King Mswati III.

His relationship with Kenya’s President William Ruto also attracted attention. Ruto described Chivayo as a “dear friend” following his death and said he would remember him for his friendship, energy and belief in Africa’s possibilities.

Close ties to Zimbabwe’s political establishment
Chivayo’s relationship with Zimbabwe’s political establishment was a recurring feature of his public profile.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he had met Chivayo after a cabinet meeting just a day before his death, during which the businessman discussed some of his plans for Zimbabwe.

The businessman’s access to senior political figures was also visible across the region. In Kenya, opposition figures had questioned his repeated access to Ruto and appearances at State House.

A sudden end
Chivayo and his wife were travelling from Gandami in Chikomba, where they were building a rural home, when the helicopter crashed at Kudenga Farm about 40 minutes after take off, according to ZBC.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana said the aircraft was carrying a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots, with no survivors.

Aviation officials visited the crash site on Thursday as investigators began examining the wreckage. George Mashababe, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, said the aircraft’s black box had been recovered.

“Preliminary findings show that fuel spilled on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site,” Mashababe said.

“The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.”

Chivayo’s death brings an abrupt end to the life of a businessman who occupied an unusual space in Zimbabwe’s public life, combining government contracts, philanthropy, conspicuous wealth, social media celebrity and relationships with some of Africa’s most powerful political figures.

https://businessday.ng/africa/article/who-was-wicknell-chivayo-the-zimbabwean-billionaire-killed-in-a-helicopter-crash/?amp


Presidents mourn

It is with great sorrow that I mourn the passing of Zimbabwean businessman Mr Wicknell Chivayo, his beloved wife, and three other people who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Marondera.

Zimbabwe and Africa have lost a young and visionary entrepreneur who touched the lives of many.

On behalf of the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe; the Chivayo family, the families of all those who lost their loved ones and the people of Zimbabwe.

May their souls rest in peace.

Amen.

Samia Suluhu
President, United Republic of Tanzania

I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend, Wicknell Chivayo, together with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash in Zimbabwe. Their sudden departure is a painful loss to their families, friends and all who knew them.

Wicknell was a dear friend whose warmth touched many people. I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent.

I convey my deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives, to President Mnangagwa, the people of Zimbabwe and everyone mourning this tragic loss. May God grant Wicknell, Lucy and all those who perished eternal rest.

William Samoei Ruto, PhD
President, Republic of Kenya

The sudden and unexpected tragic passing on of Mr and Mrs Chivayo, two crew members and a security aide in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon left our Nation, my family, and me personally numbed and in deep shock and grief. We are all shattered by this unexpected, sudden demise of so young a family and officers for whom so much promise held.

Consummately philanthropic, the Chivayo Family touched so many lives in our Nation through its countless acts of charity and generosity which ran into millions of dollars, and which motivated and transformed countless lives . His generous hand cut across sectors and reached many individuals: in politics, religion, public service, culture, sport and many different professions.

The late Wicknell Chivayo had a grand vision for his family, for our country, for the Southern African subregion and for our African continent, in pursuit of which he, in his own way, deepened our programme of engagement and re-engagement, thus raising the Zimbabwean flag high. Indeed, he embodied the Second Republic’s ethos of indigenous enterprise tempered with a human face, an admirable legacy which is sure to inspire a generation.

I am personally aware of numerous plans he had for our Nation and our people, principally the less privileged ones and our war veterans, whose social condition he diligently worked to ameliorate. He shared with me some of these grand plans only this last Tuesday after our Cabinet meeting, just a day before his tragic end.

Tellingly, the Chivayos lost their lives on their way back from Gandami in rural Chikomba where they were putting up modern family and community structures, all in line with our policy on rural development through investments, industrialization, development and transformation. His vision thus dovetailed with, and located itself within our broad national goals.

On behalf of our Nation, my Family and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Chivayo Family, and to the families of all those lost in yesterday's tragic crash . We mourn with and stand by them in this hour of deep, inconsolable grief and pain.

As they go through the motions of this consuming tragedy, may the bereaved families find solace and comfort in the great and distinguished work and service which the dear departed rendered to our Nation, and for which they will continue to be remembered and emulated.

May their dear souls be rested eternally.

Emmerson Mnangagwa
President, Republic of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean TV footage shows wreckage of helicopter that crashed with Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and four others on board. Nobody survived, ZBC News reported overnight pic.twitter.com/AQlPJQUb2K

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) October 1, 2026

Chivayo visited President Tinubu at the Villa in October 2025

Reminds me of Nigerian, CCP.

Helicopter na Rich Man Coffin
As a Rich man that loves life
I rather enter Keke than helicopter

fergie001:
Chivayo visited President Tinubu at the Villa in October 2025

Why was Tinubu meeting with such a character? Zimbabweans and Kenyans are celebrating his death on social media, accusing him of being a fixer who laundered money and manipulated elections for several African despots and presidents.

Below screenshot are comments from a documentary about him on YouTube that was uploaded 10 months ago.

Maybe na him weight crashed the plane

May all of their souls RIP....

May God rest their souls and comfort the bereaved families.

It was the guy at the seat of power in Nigeria imagine what it would look like.

Traveling on helicopters is one of the most dangerous means of transportation and reason most leaders around the world now avoid it, including top military officers that formerly used it for reconnaissance missions


Rip Biggie

Sipping green tea with your diasporic president

AMINDA:
Chivayo was in Nigeria recently and met with Tinubu. Zimbabweans are celebrating his death, accusing him of being a fixer who laundered money and manipulated elections for several African despots and presidents.

Na why I no dey enter plane with fat people

Nothing will make me enter that flying box, na death trap

fergie001:
Chivayo visited President Tinubu at the Villa in October 2025

Always meeting with questionable people from around the world, na wa oh

Stay away from Helicopter, very unstable aircraft .

So sad 😞 may his soul rest in perfect peace

They tasted the good things of life. That reminds me of that access bank CEO that died enjoying life.

Rip to the rich. Life continues.

The main story behind Wicknell Chivayo's death would be told some day in the distant future. He came, saw, and won the battle but lost the war, unfortunately.

franchasng:
Always meeting with questionable people from around the world, na wa oh

it is well with you don't continue like this please change for the best

AMINDA:
Why was Tinubu meeting with such a character? Zimbabweans and Kenyans are celebrating his death on social media, accusing him of being a fixer who laundered money and manipulated elections for several African despots and presidents.

Below screenshot are comments from a documentary about him on YouTube that was uploaded 10 months ago.

Una sabi ask stupid questions.

Why did Trump meet with Syrian president? Is he not a former ISIS leader? Or with Netanyahu? Is he not a war criminal? Or with Xi? Is he not a communist?

AMINDA:
Why was Tinubu meeting with such a character? Zimbabweans and Kenyans are celebrating his death on social media, accusing him of being a fixer who laundered money and manipulated elections for several African despots and presidents.

Below screenshot are comments from a documentary about him on YouTube that was uploaded 10 months ago.

What kind of question is that?
The man is nothing compared to jagaaban when it comes to shady deals

Holluwhakemmy:
it is well with you don't continue like this please change for the best

Yes your messiah Bola Tinubu is always meeting with people with questionable characters.


Have you seen what citizens of Zimbabwe's are saying about the man Chivayo ?

My condolences to the families of the departed souls.

If you no get money to ride helicopter, you don’t know what God has done for you

Omoh

Nevertheless, make we get money buy helicopter and make we no die sudden tragic death

My the departed rip

May their souls and that of Herbert Wigwe and his family rest in peace.

This guy's death is a ruse.

He's alive and chilling somewhere.

Don't ask me how...

God forbid that I fly in a helicopter. The day I saw the VP crawling out I knew the helicopter is out of bounds!

Two highest riggers in one pic. One gone one to go. God bless the dead

LordIsaac:
God forbid that I fly in a helicopter. The day I saw the VP crawling out I knew the helicopter is out of bounds!

God used that to warn Osibobo cos na our man forget say he assist buhari via tinubu recommendations

Isn't he the same guy that gifted a Zimbabwean pastor an RR last week ??

mindtricks:
It was the guy at the seat of power in Nigeria imagine what it would look like.

Maybe it will be ur fave that it will happen to what do u think

He sure had a colourful character, i hope he took his millions of dollars with him to where ever he ends up, he may need his millions there. ;Db


I have no sinparty.