Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among six people killed when a private helicopter crashed near Marondera, east of the capital Harare, authorities and family representatives said.
The helicopter went down on Wednesday evening in the rural Marondera area of Mashonaland East province. Zimbabwean police said six people were aboard, including four passengers and two crew members, and that there were no survivors.
Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo later confirmed that Chivayo and Muteke were among those killed.
Zimbabwe government spokesman Nick Mangwana initially said a “high-profile businessman” was travelling on the aircraft with other passengers and two pilots, adding that emergency teams had been sent to the crash site. Authorities said investigations into the cause of the crash were continuing.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said the crash caused a fire and that authorities were working to formally identify the victims.
Chivayo, 43, was one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent and flamboyant businessmen and was known for displaying his wealth on social media and giving expensive gifts to public figures, religious leaders and supporters. He was also closely associated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF party.
His business dealings and political links had attracted scrutiny over the years, including allegations involving public procurement and political financing, accusations he denied.
The helicopter reportedly crashed at around 5 p.m. local time near Waddilove Mission outside Marondera. Authorities have not yet publicly established what caused the aircraft to go down.
