Zimbabwean billionaire and businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, have died after the private helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Marondera, Mashonaland East Province, on Wednesday.
Chivayo was reportedly travelling from Gandami, where he was building his rural rural home, when the helicopter crashed at Kudenga Farm about 40 minutes after take-off.
The 43-year-old businessman was widely known for his lavish lifestyle and high-profile public presence.
He was also known for giving luxury cars and large sums of money to musicians, religious leaders and other public figures, often publicizing the gifts on social media.
His connections extended beyond Zimbabwe.
Chivayo’s public profile extended into the highest political circles on the continent. He was photographed and publicly associated with presidents including Kenya’s William Ruto, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu, Malawi’s Peter Mutharika and Lazarus Chakwera, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa.
His encounters with African leaders were frequently documented on his social media accounts, with Chivayo often describing the meetings as courtesy calls, discussions on investment and infrastructure, or opportunities to exchange ideas.