Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, known across Africa for his flamboyant lifestyle and deep pockets, died on September 30 in a helicopter crash that claimed five other lives, including that of his wife, Lucy Muteke.
The group had been on their way to Gandami in Chikomba district, where the couple was constructing a rural home, when the aircraft came down at Kudenga Farm roughly 40 minutes after departure.
The news sent shockwaves across southern Africa and beyond, drawing mourners from Zimbabwe and Kenya alike, with many sharing their grief on social media platforms.
Kenyans join Zimbabweans in mourning
Kenyan President William Ruto, who had a well-documented friendship with Chivayo, was among the first prominent figures to pay tribute.
In a post on his Facebook page, Ruto described the loss as deeply painful, extending his condolences to the bereaved families, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe.
“Wicknell was a dear friend whose warmth touched many people. I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent. I convey my deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives, to President Mnangagwa, the people of Zimbabwe and everyone mourning this tragic loss,” Ruto wrote.
The bond between the two men had placed Chivayo firmly in the consciousness of many Kenyans, who joined their Zimbabwean counterparts in honouring the businessman online.
Online Tributes Pour In from Both Nations
Beyond the presidential condolences, ordinary Kenyans and Zimbabweans turned to social media to reflect on Chivayo’s life, his generosity and the circumstances of the crash.
Felix Kiptoo wrote:
“He was philanthropic despite the mysterious businesses. At Kiligoris he said ‘God is the Greatest’. I picked that.”
Sír Isaackh-em Ndung’uh observed:
“The guy lived a happy life, some days ago I was admiring his lifestyle but who knows about tomorrow, life is quite a mystery.”
Not all reactions were straightforward tributes. Vinx Fketcher raised doubts, stating:
“There is something not adding up about this wreckage and the initial videos that circulated about the crash.”
Zim Analytics reflected on the terror of the final moments:
“Can imagine the fear that gripped the occupants of the helicopter when they realised the inevitable was about to happen.”
Peter Masuda questioned the state of emergency response infrastructure:
“Is it true that ambulances had to be called all the way from Harare by road to try and save him? If so what happened to that ambulance helicopter the state was displaying for some time, was ot a political gimmick.”
Chivayo leaves behind a legacy that sparked admiration and controversy in equal measure, with those who knew him remembering a man of enormous energy, generosity and ambition.
