Investigative journalist Maynard Manyowa has made allegations that armed soldiers were sent to Wicknell Chivayo's upmarket Harare home shortly after his death in a helicopter crash on September 30, 2026. Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, and three others perished in the crash. Manyowa claimed that the military personnel were deployed to control access to the property and prevent valuable items from disappearing.
The reported military presence coincided with a change in the couple's funeral arrangements, with the service moved away from the Gletwin mansion to a relative's home. Many observers online drew a direct link between the two developments, with some speculating that the change was made to prevent people from foraging through the property.
Manyowa also alleged that Tanzania's president offered to dispatch personal aides to help secure the mansion, suggesting that the property's contents drew significant interest beyond Zimbabwe's borders. No official statement has been issued to confirm or refute the allegations.
The victims of the helicopter crash were identified as Senelisiwe Magagula, Captain Kelvin T Soda, and Captain Courage Mutavirwa, in addition to Chivayo and his wife. A security aide attached to Chivayo previously gave a harrowing account of the last radio transmissions made by the pilot before the crash.
According to the security aide, conditions in the sky deteriorated sharply while both aircraft were in the air, and the pilot suggested rerouting through Bromley to avoid the worsening weather. The aide was aboard a separate helicopter on the same return journey.
Online reactions to the alleged deployment of soldiers and the change in funeral arrangements were pointed and varied, with some users expressing skepticism and others highlighting the potential for valuable items to be stolen. Some speculated that the property contained sensitive information that could expose high-ranking officials.
The allegations have sparked concerns over the circumstances surrounding Chivayo's death and the handling of his estate. While some have questioned the need for military personnel to be deployed to the property, others have highlighted the potential risks associated with the property's contents.
Key points
- Soldiers were allegedly deployed to Wicknell Chivayo's Harare mansion after his death to control access to the property and prevent valuable items from disappearing.
- The reported military presence coincided with a change in the couple's funeral arrangements, with the service moved away from the Gletwin mansion to a relative's home.
- Tanzania's president allegedly offered to dispatch personal aides to help secure the mansion, suggesting that the property's contents drew significant interest beyond Zimbabwe's borders.
