By Mapaballo Borotho
- Zimbabwean billionaire Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, have died in a helicopter crash that killed six people in Marondera.
- The 43-year-old businessman was known for his flamboyant lifestyle, business ventures and high-profile philanthropy.
- Hours before his death, Chivayo made a US$250,000 donation to Highlanders Football Club, one of his last publicly documented activities.
The family of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has confirmed the tragic news of his passing, following a helicopter crash that killed six people in rural Marondera.
The 43-year-old billionaire, who was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and high-profile presence on social media, died alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Chivayo’s family spokesperson, Herbert Chivayo, confirmed both their deaths to the media.
“We are at a loss for words after the tragic incident,” Herbert Chivayo said.
Meanwhile, Nick Mangwana, the Chief Government Spokesperson of Zimbabwe, confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash.
Authorities said the helicopter was carrying six people, including two pilots.
The cause of the crash is not yet known and remains under investigation.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Chivayo, who founded Intratrek Zimbabwe, built his business interests around energy, infrastructure, transport and other sectors.
His company has also pursued renewable energy and power-generation opportunities outside Zimbabwe.
His regional business profile expanded in 2026. In June, Chivayo reportedly received Eswatini citizenship and a diplomatic passport from King Mswati III, after which he announced a proposed 300-megawatt solar project in the kingdom.
He also maintained a high public profile through his social media accounts, where he regularly documented his business activities, philanthropy and luxury purchases.
His business activities had also attracted public scrutiny, particularly around government-linked contracts and the Gwanda solar project.
He has maintained that his businesses had operated within the law and had defended his record in relation to the disputes surrounding the project.
In recent months, he had continued to make large public donations and investments, including financial support for sporting and religious figures.
His final public donation
On the same day as his death, Chivayo made a significant donation to Highlanders Football Club.
The club announced that it had received a fresh US$250,000 (about R4.1 million) donation from the businessman.
According to reports, Highlanders chairman Kidman Ndlovu said the latest contribution was made at around 1pm, approximately four hours before the fatal helicopter crash.
The donation was among Chivayo’s last publicly documented activities before his death.
The latest contribution adds to Chivayo’s history of high-value donations and public displays of philanthropy, which had become a prominent part of his public profile.
His death brings an abrupt end to the public life of a businessman whose wealth, luxury lifestyle, philanthropy and high-profile connections made him one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable business figures.
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