Helicopter Crash Claims Zimbabwe Billionaire Wicknell Chivayo, Wife
Zimbabwean businessman and billionaire Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, have died in a helicopter crash that killed all six people aboard the aircraft.
The helicopter crashed on Wednesday evening in the Marondera rural area of Mashonaland East Province, east of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths of the businessman and his wife, who were travelling with four other people when the helicopter went down.
“We are at a loss for words after the tragic news,” he told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Zimbabwean government spokesperson Nick Mangwana had earlier confirmed the crash, saying a high-profile businessman, other passengers and two pilots were aboard the aircraft.
“Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash,” Mangwana said in a statement.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi also confirmed that six people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed in the Marondera area.
Authorities did not immediately release the identities of the other victims as police and emergency teams worked at the crash site.
Chivayo was one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent businessmen and was widely recognised for his lavish lifestyle and high-profile public appearances.
He was also known for his close relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his links to Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party.
The businessman’s public profile extended beyond his commercial interests, with his wealth, luxury lifestyle and connections to influential political and business figures frequently attracting attention.
His death, alongside that of his wife, has sparked widespread reactions in Zimbabwe, with condolences expected from political, business and social figures.
Authorities have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, while efforts continue to establish exactly what caused the helicopter to go down.
The identities of all those who died and further details about the aircraft and the flight are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
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