Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who was known for hosting lavish parties and securing lucrative government contracts, and his wife Lucy Muteke, died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Kudenga Farm, about 70 km east of Harare, on Wednesday evening. Police confirmed all six occupants – including the two pilots – were fatalities.
The family spokesperson, Herbert Chivayo, informed state broadcaster ZBC that the couple were devastated by the tragedy and that the plane was en route from Gandami in Chikomba, where the pair were building a rural home. The crash occurred roughly 40 minutes after take‑off, at around 17:00 local time.
Chivayo, the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe, built a public profile as a philanthropist and frequent social‑media poster of lavish gifts. He was embroiled in public debates over a $172 m solar power project in Gwanda awarded by the state‑owned Zimbabwe Power Company and over alleged misuse of procurement funds for the 2023 elections, all of which were cleared by the anti‑corruption commission in 2025.
President William Ruto of Kenya released a message of condolence, calling Chivayo a “dear friend” and praising his “energy and deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent.” Kenyan political figures, however, had previously questioned the businessman’s frequent access to the State House.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigators were reviewing flight data and that the cause of the crash had not yet been determined. Emergency services arrived on scene Friday evening to recover bodies and inspect wreckage.
