Zimbabwean billionaire Wicknell Chivayo, wife d!e in helicopter crash

Zimbabwean billionaire businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, have died after a private helicopter they were travelling in crashed in eastern Zimbabwe.

The helicopter crashed in Marondera, the capital of Mashonaland East province, east of Harare, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths, saying the couple was travelling with four other people when the helicopter crashed.

“We are at a loss for words after the tragic news,” he told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana also confirmed the incident, saying the helicopter was carrying a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots.

“Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash. We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the victims, their families and their friends during this difficult time,” Mangwana said in a post on X.

Zimbabwe police spokesman Paul Nyathi confirmed that six people were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.

The cause of the crash had not been established as of the time of filing this report.

Chivayo, 42, was a prominent Zimbabwean businessman known for his lavish lifestyle and high-profile public appearances.

He was also known for his close ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

The crash has sparked mourning among Chivayo’s family, associates and members of the public as authorities continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.