Wicknell Chivayo’s senior security aide, Froster Chisi, has broken his silence about the alarming weather conditions he observed during the flight that ended in a fatal helicopter crash in Zimbabwe’s Marondera Rural area.
Chisi, speaking to ZBC News online, described noticing difficult weather while airborne in a separate helicopter travelling alongside the one carrying Chivayo.
The two aircraft were not flying together as a single unit, which meant Chisi was not aboard when the tragedy struck. His account places him among the final people to have seen the prominent businessman alive.
What Chisi Witnessed Before the Crash The aide recalled that the weather deteriorated significantly during the journey, a detail he said shadowed the flight from an early stage.
Chisi’s observations are now being viewed as potentially significant as investigators piece together a timeline of events leading up to the crash.
Authorities have not yet named bad weather as the confirmed or official cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to weigh several factors before drawing any formal conclusions, and the examination of the wreckage and flight conditions remains ongoing.
What Happened at the Crash Site
The helicopter went down on Wednesday evening at approximately 5pm near a farm close to Waddilove Mission.
Emergency responders confirmed there were no survivors. Authorities later reported that the aircraft caught fire after striking the ground.
Initial police reports indicated that six people were on board. Government officials subsequently clarified that those aboard included a high-profile businessman, three passengers and two pilots.
Family representatives confirmed that Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among those who perished in the crash.
The exact cause of the accident has not been officially determined, with investigators continuing their work at the scene.
