HARARE — Funeral proceedings for businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, are expected to move from Greystone Park to the couple’s Chishawasha Hills home in Gletwyn as the family begins organising their affairs following their deaths in a helicopter crash.
The couple died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash in Marondera, Mashonaland East, alongside Muteke’s personal assistant and two pilots.
The funeral wake had initially been held at the Greystone Park residence, which a family source said was the home of Chivayo’s late mother. The family is now expected to move proceedings to Chivayo’s own residence in Chishawasha Hills ahead of the burial.
A family member told The Zimbabwe Financial Mail that the move followed the arrival of Chivayo’s sisters from the United Kingdom.
“We were waiting for the sisters to arrive from the UK to first secure the property and his valuables,” the family member said, adding that the family was concerned about protecting vehicles and personal possessions while funeral proceedings were under way.
The family source alleged that the Chishawasha property contained substantial personal assets, including vehicles, jewellery, designer clothing and other valuables. Those claims could not independently be verified.
The government has not publicly disclosed the value of Chivayo’s estate or provided details of his personal assets.
Estate management becomes an immediate issue
The movement of the funeral proceedings comes as the family faces the more complex task of establishing control over the businessman’s estate and business interests.
Chivayo was one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent and controversial businessmen, with interests and associations spanning infrastructure, energy and other commercial activities. His public profile was also built around an affluent lifestyle and extensive social-media presence.
Business observers who spoke to The Zimbabwe Financial Mail said the immediate priority following a sudden death involving substantial commercial interests would normally be to establish ownership, secure assets and ensure continuity of companies and contractual obligations.
“The commercial issue is ultimately about continuity and governance,” one business observer said. “Where an entrepreneur has accumulated substantial private and corporate interests, the family and appointed representatives have to distinguish personal assets from company assets and ensure that contractual obligations continue to be met.”
Another business source said succession could become an important issue if Chivayo’s death is formally confirmed across all relevant legal and corporate records.
“The value of an estate is not simply the houses, cars or other visible assets,” the source said. “There can also be shares, receivables, contractual rights, liabilities and interests in private companies, all of which require proper administration.”
Chishawasha property becomes funeral centre
Chivayo’s Chishawasha Hills residence is expected to become the principal venue for the remainder of the funeral proceedings.
The property has previously attracted considerable public attention because of its reported scale and luxury. Chivayo publicly linked the property to former police commissioner Augustine Chihuri, although The Zimbabwe Financial Mail could not independently establish the precise ownership history or current legal title.
The family source said security arrangements were put in place at the property after the crash.
The decision to hold the funeral at the businessman’s own residence also reflects the practical difficulties that can arise when a prominent family experiences an unexpected death, particularly where large numbers of mourners, employees, associates and members of the public converge on private properties.
Business implications extend beyond the funeral
Chivayo’s death comes at a time when Zimbabwe is attempting to attract more private capital into energy and infrastructure, sectors that require significant long-term investment.
His business interests have previously attracted public attention because of his involvement in major infrastructure-related projects. Any outstanding contracts, corporate interests or financial obligations connected to his businesses would ordinarily need to be assessed separately from his personal estate.
“The important distinction is between the individual and the corporate entities,” a business source told The Zimbabwe Financial Mail. “Companies have their own legal personality, assets, liabilities and governance structures. The death of a shareholder or director does not automatically mean that the company’s assets form part of the personal estate.”
For Zimbabwe’s business community, the episode highlights a broader issue around succession planning among privately controlled enterprises.
Many family-owned businesses in the country remain closely associated with their founders, making formal succession arrangements, documented ownership structures and professional governance increasingly important as businesses grow.
Investigation into crash continues
The funeral arrangements are unfolding while authorities continue investigating Wednesday’s helicopter crash.
Government confirmed that six people were aboard the aircraft and that there were no survivors. Police said the crash occurred at about 5pm in the Marondera Rural area and that further details would be released as investigations progressed.
The cause of the crash has not been established publicly.
For now, attention remains focused on the families of those who died, while Chivayo’s relatives begin the difficult process of arranging the funeral and securing his personal and business affairs.
The Zimbabwe Financial Mail will continue to update the story as authorities and the family release verified information.
