Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among six people killed when a helicopter crashed in the Marondera area, east of Harare, on Wednesday. Police said the aircraft crashed at about 5 p.m. local time in Marondera Rural, about 70 kilometers from the capital. The helicopter caught fire after the crash, and there were no survivors. Authorities are working to formally identify all six victims. Chivayo, 43, was one of Zimbabwe’s best-known businessmen and had built a high public profile through his energy and infrastructure interests, philanthropy and displays of wealth on social media. He was also known for his close relationships with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other African political leaders.
His company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, was awarded the Gwanda Solar Project, a major renewable-energy development that had faced years of delays and disputes. In September, the Zimbabwe Power Company issued a notice allowing work on the 100-megawatt project to resume, with the revised project cost reported at less than $132 million. The businessman’s death has prompted condolences from political and business figures across the region. Kenyan President William Ruto described Chivayo as a friend and expressed condolences to the families of all those who died. Zimbabwean authorities have not yet established what caused the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft and circumstances surrounding the accident as efforts continue to establish the identities of the other victims.
