More details on Chivayo’s death

A private helicopter carrying businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, wife Lulu Muteke, two other passengers and two crew members crashed at Kudenga Farm , along Harare-Wedza road, near Waddilove High School,Marondera, killing all on board.

Currently , some bodies are yet to be removed from the scene as they were dismembered due to the impact of the crash.

Police and security details have cordoned off the area, and media not allowed to film or take pictures at the accident scene .

Chivayo had spent the greater part of the day at his rural home in Gandami, Chikomba, assessing progress on a house he was constructing.

The private helicopter was also engulfed in fire after crashing.

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Wicknell Chivayo’s remains being loaded into a Doves Funeral Services ambulance

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Mnangagwa mourns Chivayo

By Valentine Maya

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed shock at the sudden death of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke in a helicopter crash in Marondera on Wednesday evening.

In his condolence message, Mnangagagwa said the tragedy had left him “personally numbed and in deep shock and grief.”

“We are all shattered by this unexpected, sudden demise of so young a family and officers for whom so much promise held,” he said.

The aircraft came down shortly after leaving the family’s rural home in Gandami, Chikomba district.

“Tellingly, the Chivayos lost their lives on their way back from Gandami in rural Chikomba where they were putting up modern family and community structures, all in line with our policy on rural development,” he said. 

The President praised Chivayo’s philanthropy. 

“Consummately philanthropic, the Chivayo Family touched so many lives in our nation through its countless acts of charity and generosity which ran into millions of dollars, and which motivated and transformed countless lives,” he said. 

He added that the family’s “generous hand cut across sectors and reached many individuals: in politics, religion, public service, culture, sport and many different professions.”

Mnangagwa said Chivayo “embodied the Second Republic’s ethos of indigenous enterprise tempered with a human face, an admirable legacy which is sure to inspire a generation.” 

He said the businessman “had a grand vision for his family, for our country, for the southern African subregion and for our African continent.”

The President also disclosed that he had met Chivayo days before the crash. 

“I am personally aware of numerous plans he had for our nation and our people, principally the less privileged ones and our war veterans, whose social condition he diligently worked to ameliorate. He shared with me some of these grand plans only this last Tuesday after our Cabinet meeting, just a day before his tragic end,” he said.

Chivayo, known as “Sir Wicknell,” was also a controversial figure especially in business circles where he won multi-million-dollar government tenders under unclear circumstances.

His adversaries in the ruling Zanu PF party accused him of  fueling factionalism because of his close proximity to Mnangagwa.

Chivayo also courted controversy when he attended State functions and travelled with the President, including in the presidential helicopter, despite holding no government post.

His hobnobbing and private dealings with other Heads of State and government in the region were also left tongues waging both at and outside Zimbabwe’s borders.

In April this year, Chivayo nearly polarised Parliament after he pledged US$3.6 million to be shared among the 360 legislators ahead of debate on the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.

Chivayo later withdrew the pledge, apologised to Parliament, the Speaker and the Youth League, and denied any link to the Bill. He replaced it with a US$5million commitment channel led through ZanuPF provincial structures ,at US500,000 per province.

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Prophet Makandiwa breaks silence on Chivayo’s death, denies foreseeing fatal crash

Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, founder and leader of the United Family International (UFI) Church, has publicly addressed speculation over whether he foresaw the helicopter crash that killed businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke, insisting he does not and cannot see everything, after social media users questioned why he had not warned the couple ahead of the fatal flight.

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Chivayo declared provincial hero

By Valentine Maya

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has conferred provincial hero status on controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who died in a plane crash in Marondera on Wednesday.

Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training minister Tino Machakaire announced the decision at Chivayo’s family home in Gletwin, Harare, this evening.

Addressing mourners, Machakaire said the honour was granted in recognition of Chivayo’s contributions to society and youth empowerment initiatives across the country.

Chivayo died on Wednesday alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, an aide and their two co-pilots.

Burial arrangements are expected to be announced in due course as investigations into the cause of the fatal air crash continue.