from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – THE death of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, in a helicopter crash near Marondera has stunned the country, but important questions remain unanswered about the flight and what led to the tragedy.
Zimbabwean authorities confirmed that a helicopter crashed in the Marondera Rural area at about 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Police initially said six people were aboard.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana subsequently confirmed that the aircraft was carrying a high-profile businessman, passengers and two pilots, and that there were no survivors.
A helicopter carrying six people crashed in the Marondera district of Zimbabwe, southeast of the capital Harare, on Wednesday afternoon around 5 p.m., resulting in no survivors, according to police and government officials.
Among the passengers were four individuals, including a high-profile businessman, and two crew members.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana shared the information on social media, confirming the absence of survivors.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of those on board and noted that more details will follow as emergency responders are still at the crash site.
The victims were not immediately officially identified because investigators needed to establish their identities.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the bodies were badly burned. Chivayo’s death, however, was subsequently reported by Zimbabwean media, while his family spokesperson confirmed that Chivayo and Muteke were among those killed.
That distinction matters. At the time of the Government’s first announcement, officials had confirmed the deaths but had not publicly named the victims.
The identification of Chivayo and his wife therefore came through subsequent reporting and family confirmation rather than the initial Government statement.
Another crucial fact is what remains unknown.
There is currently no verified public account establishing where the helicopter had departed from, its intended destination, why the passengers were travelling, or precisely what happened immediately before the crash.
No responsible account should fill those gaps with speculation.
Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the accident, and an investigation is expected to establish the aircraft’s flight path, mechanical condition, weather conditions, pilot actions and other relevant circumstances.
Chivayo, 43, was one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable businessmen, known for Intratrek Zimbabwe, government-linked infrastructure projects and a conspicuous public lifestyle. His wife, Muteke, married him in 2025.
For now, the clearest picture is tragically simple: a helicopter carrying six people went down in rural Marondera at about 5pm, and nobody survived.
Until investigators release the aircraft’s origin, destination and preliminary findings, claims about where the group was coming from, where they were going, or what caused the crash should be treated as unverified.
– CAJ News