On 1 October, a helicopter carrying Zimbabwe’s high‑profile businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke crashed in the Marondera rural area, roughly 70 kilometres east of Harare. All six people on board were killed, according to police reports.
Robust media coverage followed as the family confirmed the tragedy to the national broadcaster ZBC, describing it as a devastating loss. The victim was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and high‑profile government contracts, which had often attracted scrutiny.
Chivayo, a former managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe, had secured several lucrative deals, including a $172 million solar‑power project in Gwanda awarded by the state‑owned Zimbabwe Power Company. He also faced investigations into procurement activities ahead of the 2023 elections, none of which produced evidence of wrongdoing.
Government officials noted that the helicopter had departed from Gandami in Chikomba where Chivayo and his wife were building a rural home, and it crashed at Kudenga Farm about 40 minutes after take‑off. Police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the aircraft had six occupants, two of whom were pilots.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Emergency services arrived at the scene on Wednesday evening, but no survivors were reported.
