Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, widely known as Sir Wicknell, and his wife Lucy Muteke have been killed in a helicopter crash in rural Marondera. All six people on board died. Family and government officials have confirmed the deaths, and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The aircraft came down at about 17:00 local time on 30 September 2026 at Kudenga Farm, roughly 70 kilometres east of Harare. State broadcaster ZBC said the group had left Gandami in Chikomba, where Chivayo grew up and where he and Muteke were building a rural home. The helicopter crashed about 40 minutes after take-off.
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the aircraft had six occupants. Government spokesman Nick Mangwana said there were no survivors, and that those on board included a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots. Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths of Wicknell and Lucy to ZBC and said the family was devastated.
On Thursday, Transport Minister Felix Mhona led aviation officials to the site. Investigators recovered the aircraft’s black box intact. George Mashababe, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, said preliminary findings showed that fuel spilled on impact and a fire then burnt grass at the crash site. The inquiry is continuing, and authorities have not yet given a cause.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he had met Chivayo after a cabinet meeting the day before the crash, when the businessman outlined plans for Zimbabwe. In a statement he called the deaths an unexpected loss of “so young a family,” described Chivayo as “consummately philanthropic,” and said the couple had touched many lives through charity. Kenya’s President William Ruto also sent condolences, calling Chivayo a friend.
Chivayo was born Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo on 22 November 1982 in the Chivhu area and was 43. He founded Intratrek Zimbabwe and became one of the country’s most visible businessmen through government-linked energy and infrastructure work, above all the long-delayed 100-megawatt Gwanda solar project.
He was convicted in a money-laundering case in 2005 and served several years in prison. In 2018 he was arrested over the alleged misuse of a US$5.6 million advance on the solar project. A magistrate struck the case off the roll in 2023, citing delays by prosecutors. He denied wrongdoing. Critics often pointed to his contracts and his closeness to the ruling ZANU-PF establishment. Supporters pointed to public gifts of cars and cash.
In 2024 he drew fresh attention after Mnangagwa described his company as Starlink’s exclusive partner in Zimbabwe, a claim the telecoms regulator later narrowed. In the months before his death he had widened his profile outside Zimbabwe, including ties in Kenya.
He married Lucy Muteke in 2025 after an earlier marriage to Sonja Madzikanda ended in divorce. He had two children from the first marriage. They were not on the helicopter.
The other victims have not all been publicly named. Officials say a full statement will follow once identification and the aviation inquiry are further along.
