Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, were killed on Wednesday evening after a helicopter crashed in the Marondera Rural area, east of Harare.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police said the aircraft crashed at around 5 p.m. with several people aboard and that investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana later confirmed that there were no survivors, saying seven people were aboard the helicopter, including Chivayo, his wife, four other passengers and two pilots. Authorities have yet to disclose the cause of the crash as investigations continue.

Chivayo’s 2026 business expansion

Chivayo’s death comes as the 45-year-old businessman, who would have turned 46 in 53 days, was pursuing an increasingly ambitious expansion of his energy interests across Southern Africa.

His most significant domestic project was the revival of Intratrek’s long-delayed Gwanda solar project in Zimbabwe. In September, Zimbabwe Power Company issued a notice to proceed, paving the way for the 100MW solar project to restart under revised terms reportedly valued at about $132 million.

Beyond Zimbabwe, Chivayo had expanded his energy ambitions into Eswatini through Intratrek Holdings, pledging roughly R3 billion ($163 million) toward a proposed 300MW solar project. The expansion followed his engagement with King Mswati III and the reported granting of Eswatini citizenship and a diplomatic passport.

Kenya deal put Chivayo in spotlight

Chivayo also attracted attention in Kenya after it was reported that his IMC Construction Kenya had secured a stake in the proposed $2.9 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The Kenyan government subsequently said the signed $1.2 billion contract was with China Road and Bridge Corporation and that Chivayo’s company had not participated in the bidding process. The episode underscored the growing public attention around Chivayo as he expanded his business interests beyond Zimbabwe.

The incident adds to growing concern over the loss of prominent African business figures in aviation accidents. In February 2024, Nigerian banking executive Herbert Wigwe, then Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, died alongside his wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi, after a helicopter crashed near the California-Nevada border in the United States. The two incidents, although unrelated and occurring in different countries, have renewed attention on the risks associated with private and executive helicopter travel involving high-profile business leaders.

A prominent Zimbabwean businessman

Away from his energy ventures, Chivayo maintained a high public profile through philanthropy, including multimillion-dollar donations and gifts.

His business activities, public profile and expanding interests across Southern Africa had made him one of Zimbabwe’s most visible businessmen in 2026.

His death now brings an abrupt end to a year marked by major energy ambitions, regional expansion and heightened public attention around his business activities.