Zimbabwean tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and wife killed in helicopter crash

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has died in a helicopter crash in Marondera, Zimbabwe.

Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed that the businessman died alongside his wife Lucy Muteke.

The crash occurred in the Marondera Rural area on Wednesday, September 30, with the aircraft carrying six occupants at the time of the incident.

Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the crash, saying authorities were responding to the incident.

“The ZRP confirms a plane crash in Marondera Rural area at 1700 hours. The aircraft had 6 occupants,” the ZPR said.

There were no survivors in the crash.

Chivayo was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and close ties to political elites across Africa. 

His political connections, particularly with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were central to his business dealings, which also attracted significant controversy.

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Chivayo was born on November 22, 1982, and left school in 1996 to work as a wages clerk before venturing into foreign currency trading in Harare.

His early business career was marked by legal trouble; he served a prison term between 2004 and 2006 for a fraud-related case.

After his release, he founded Intratrek Zimbabwe in 2008, an engineering, procurement, and construction firm that became the flagship of his business empire.

The company’s most notable project was the Gwanda Solar Power Station, a $173 million venture in Zimbabwe. 

Chivayo’s business success was deeply intertwined with his political connections, which he cultivated and displayed prominently on social media.

Other than Mnangangwa, Chivayo developed a highly visible relationship with President William Ruto, referring to him as a ‘father and mentor.’

Their meetings occurred in both official settings, like State House, and private ones, such as Ruto’s family home in Kilgoris. 

Chivayo also had documented visits with the leaders of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, and Eswatini. 

In Eswatini, he was reportedly granted citizenship and a diplomatic passport by King Mswati III, a move the government framed as a recognition of his philanthropic work.

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