The family of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has initiated the process of accounting for his vast fortune following his death in a helicopter crash on September 30. Chivayo's estate has been registered with Zimbabwe's Master of the High Court, marking the beginning of an exercise to establish the wealth he left behind, the businesses he owned, and any debts or claims against him. However, no person has yet been appointed to oversee the process, meaning the full accounting of his wealth and the distribution of his property are yet to begin.
Chivayo's death has brought attention to his business connections outside Zimbabwe, particularly in Kenya, where he had developed a highly publicised friendship with President William Ruto. His relationship with President Ruto was particularly visible, with Chivayo frequently sharing photographs and videos of his encounters with the President, including visits to State House in Nairobi and other private and official engagements. One of the most widely discussed encounters occurred in August when Ruto personally drove him towards his helicopter at his Kilgoris residence.
Chivayo's business interests in Kenya have raised questions, particularly regarding a company associated with him, IMC Construction Kenya Ltd, and its alleged involvement in the proposed expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The reports suggested that the company had joined a consortium involving Chinese construction interests for the airport redevelopment, initially reported to cost Sh375 billion. However, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir dismissed the reports, saying neither Chivayo nor IMC Construction Kenya had participated in the procurement process.
The government put the project cost at Sh154.2 billion and announced a design-and-build contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) subsequently went to court, questioning the transparency of the project, the companies involved, and the financing arrangements. In October, High Court Judge Gregory Mutai declined to stop the project, saying claims linking Chivayo to the airport consortium were based on media reports rather than evidence presented in court.
Chivayo's death has also brought attention to a US$25 million dispute over property and wealth involving his former wife, Sonja Madzikanda, which was awaiting a decision by Zimbabwe's Supreme Court when he died. The dispute could further complicate efforts to establish which properties and wealth belong to the estate. The eventual accounting will also be important in determining the future of companies and investments associated with the late businessman.
Chivayo cultivated relationships with other African leaders, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Nigeria's Bola Tinubu. His access to powerful political figures became a defining feature of his public image. Born in 1982 in Zimbabwe's Chivhu area, Chivayo rose from humble beginnings to become a wealthy businessman whose interests included energy, construction, and infrastructure.
The registration of Chivayo's estate marks the beginning of an exercise that could take considerable time, given his business interests, property holdings, and outstanding disputes. According to The Sunday Mail, the family has already held an initial meeting, but no person has been appointed to take charge of the process. The accounting will be crucial in determining the future of companies and investments associated with the late businessman, and in Kenya, one outstanding question is whether Chivayo had direct ownership of local companies or held his interests through other businesses.
Key points
- Wicknell Chivayo's family begins process of taking stock of his vast fortune following his death in a helicopter crash
- Chivayo's business interests in Kenya have raised questions, particularly regarding a company associated with him, IMC Construction Kenya Ltd
- A US$25 million dispute over property and wealth involving Chivayo's former wife could further complicate efforts to establish which properties and wealth belong to the estate
