HARARE — Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and four others were killed when a private helicopter crashed Wednesday evening near Marondera, about 70 kilometres east of the capital, police and state media said.
Authorities said the aircraft went down about 40 minutes after takeoff from Gandami in Chikomba district, where the couple were building a rural home, and that all six people on board — including two pilots — died. Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana wrote on X that there were “no survivors.” Civil Aviation Authority director-general George Mashababe said preliminary findings pointed to a tail-first impact, fuel spill and grass fire; investigators recovered the black box.
Chivayo, 43, founded Intratrek Zimbabwe and was known for energy contracts, a lavish public persona and political ties across southern Africa. Kenyan President William Ruto paid tribute, calling him “a dear friend.” Chivayo had denied past allegations of wrongdoing linked to his business dealings. The cause of the crash was under investigation.
Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera with AFP and AP
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