Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife have been killed in a helicopter crash that left six people dead, his family have confirmed.

The helicopter came down in the Marondera rural area, about 70km (43 miles) east of the capital, Harare, on Wednesday evening. Police said all six people on board died.

Chivayo was known for his lavish lifestyle, close ties to some African presidents and lucrative government contracts that had repeatedly attracted scrutiny.

He had denied allegations of wrongdoing linked to his business dealings.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the aircraft crashed at about 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT) and had six occupants, but authorities did not immediately identify all those on board. Two of the six were pilots, according to government officials.

ZBC reported that the group was travelling from Gandami in Chikomba, where Chivayo and his wife were building a rural home, when the helicopter crashed at Kudenga Farm about 40 minutes after take-off.

"We are at a loss for words after the tragic news," the family spokesperson, told the ZBC.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and police said investigations were under way. Emergency services were sent to the scene on Wednesday evening.

Earlier, government spokesman Nick Mangwana confirmed the crash, saying the helicopter was carrying "a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots".

"Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash," Mangwana posted on X.

Chivayo was the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe and had built a high public profile through government contracts, philanthropy and displays of wealth on social media.

Among his best-known business ventures was a $172m (£128m) solar power project in Gwanda awarded to Intratrek by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company. The project became the subject of years of legal disputes.

He also came under scrutiny over the procurement of materials for Zimbabwe's disputed 2023 elections. Zimbabwe's anti-corruption commission investigated allegations surrounding contracts awarded to South African company Ren-Form but closed the inquiry in 2025, saying it had found no evidence linking Chivayo or the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to wrongdoing.

Widely known as "Sir Wicknell", Chivayo frequently used the title publicly and on social media, although he was never given a British knighthood.

His connections extended beyond Zimbabwe.

Kenya's President William Ruto, who had previously appeared in public with Chivayo, paid tribute to him as a "dear friend" and sent condolences to the families of those killed.

"I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent," Ruto added.

Kenyan opposition figures had questioned Chivayo's repeated access to Ruto and State House.

He frequently publicised his access to African leaders, posting photographs of meetings with presidents including Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, as well as Eswatini's King Mswati III.

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