… Zimbabwe Government confirms all aboard aircraft killed
… Journalists identify Eswatini citizen as crash victim
… Official authorities yet to publish victims’ full identities
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE/HARARE – Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Sir Wicknell Chivayo, who recently became an Eswatini citizen and was issued a diplomatic passport, has been reported dead following a fatal helicopter crash in Marondera, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday evening.
Reports of Chivayo’s death spread rapidly across Zimbabwe on Wednesday night, with Zimbabwean journalists identifying the businessman as one of those who died when the aircraft crashed in the Marondera rural area, east of Harare.
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono reported that Chivayo and his wife were killed in the crash. Other Zimbabwean media personalities also circulated reports identifying Chivayo as the high-profile businessman who died.
However, as of Wednesday night, Zimbabwean Government authorities had publicly confirmed the crash and the deaths of all those aboard without officially releasing the full names of the victims.
Zimbabwe Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed that the helicopter crashed at about 5pm local time in Marondera Rural.
According to Reuters, Mangwana said the aircraft was carrying seven people — a high-profile businessman, four other passengers and two pilots — and there were no survivors.
Police had earlier reported that an aircraft carrying six occupants had crashed in the area, showing that some details remained fluid during the early stages of the emergency response.
Emergency personnel and police were dispatched to the scene while authorities began investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN AMONG DEAD
Zimbabwe’s state-owned Herald subsequently reported that a prominent businessman was among those killed in the Marondera crash.
The newspaper reported that six people had died, although the Government’s later account carried by Reuters referred to seven people being aboard the helicopter.
Neither report initially named the businessman.
The difference in the reported number of occupants is one of several details that authorities are expected to clarify as investigators establish exactly what happened.
The cause of the crash had also not been officially announced by Wednesday night.
For that reason, speculation about what caused the helicopter to go down should be avoided until Zimbabwean aviation authorities or investigators release preliminary findings.
CHIVAYO’S NAME SPREADS ACROSS ZIMBABWE
Despite authorities withholding names, Chivayo’s identity began circulating shortly after news of the accident emerged.
Chin’ono, a well-known Zimbabwean journalist, posted that Chivayo and his wife had died in the accident and referenced Mangwana’s confirmation that there had been no survivors.
Another Zimbabwean journalist, Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, reported that a high-profile businessman had been killed together with other occupants, although the screenshot shared with Eswatini Positive News did not identify that businessman by name.
The reports resulted in an outpouring of reaction across social media, with Chivayo’s name becoming closely associated with the developing tragedy.
The reports are particularly significant in Eswatini because Chivayo had, in recent months, established a much stronger relationship with the Kingdom.
RECENTLY BECAME ESWATINI CITIZEN
Chivayo’s reported death comes only months after he was granted Eswatini citizenship and a diplomatic passport.
His growing ties with the Kingdom had attracted considerable public interest following engagements involving His Majesty King Mswati III and planned investments in Eswatini.
Among the projects linked to the businessman was a proposed multibillion-Emalangeni renewable-energy investment.
Chivayo is associated with Intratrek Zimbabwe and has been involved in energy, infrastructure and other commercial ventures.
His visibility across Southern Africa has also grown substantially through his philanthropy, donations and highly publicised purchases.
Only in June this year, Nehanda Radio reported that Chivayo had taken delivery of a Gulfstream G550 private jet valued at about US$34 million. The publication described him as a businessman whose commercial dealings and public profile have frequently attracted substantial attention in Zimbabwe.
Nehanda Radio has extensively covered Chivayo over the years, including his business activities, philanthropy and controversies.
TRAGEDY CLOSE TO MARONDERA CONNECTIONS
Marondera also has a personal connection to Chivayo.
His in-laws have previously been reported as residing at Alpha Omega Farm in the Marondera area. In March 2025, Zimbabwean media reported a major armed robbery at the farm belonging to his in-laws.
That geographical link is likely to become relevant as authorities establish the aircraft’s point of departure, intended destination and circumstances immediately before the crash.
There was no verified information by Wednesday night establishing why the helicopter was flying in the area.
AUTHORITIES EXPECTED TO RELEASE NAMES
The next major development is expected to be the formal identification of those killed.
Under normal practice following fatal accidents, authorities generally notify relatives before releasing victims’ identities publicly.
That makes the wording of early reports particularly important.
While several journalists and media reports are now identifying Chivayo as being among those killed, the safest factual position is that his death has been reported by Zimbabwean journalists, while the Zimbabwean Government has so far publicly confirmed the fatal crash and the presence of an unnamed high-profile businessman aboard.
What is beyond dispute is the scale of the tragedy.
A helicopter went down near Marondera on Wednesday evening. Everyone aboard was killed. Zimbabwe’s Government has confirmed that a prominent businessman was among the occupants, and reports identifying that businessman as Sir Wicknell Chivayo are spreading rapidly across the region.
For Eswatini, developments will be followed particularly closely because of Chivayo’s recently acquired citizenship, diplomatic status and proposed investments in the Kingdom.
Eswatini Positive News will update the report once Zimbabwean authorities or Chivayo’s family formally identify the victims.
