Wicknell Chivayo, a 43-year-old Zimbabwean businessman, died on September 30, 2026, in a helicopter crash. He was the founder of Intratrek Zimbabwe and had secured significant government infrastructure contracts. Chivayo was known for his lavish public gestures and had close ties with Kenyan President William Ruto. His business empire was built primarily through his flagship firm, Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited.
Chivayo's company had secured a stake in the proposed $2.89 billion USD expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya. In June 2026, his company IMC Construction Kenya was named as a joint-venture partner in a Chinese-led consortium headed by China Communications Construction Company. This project was a significant development in his growing footprint in Kenya.
Chivayo had a history of court appearances, with a 2004 conviction for theft by false pretences resulting in a three-year sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. He faced fraud and money laundering charges in 2011 but was fully acquitted after trial. In 2018, fresh charges were brought against him over the unbuilt Gwanda Solar Project, but the state failed to establish a prima facie case.
Chivayo's professional rise was also marked by allegations of bribery and corruption. A separate bribery allegation, which claimed he paid USD 10,000 to a former Zimbabwe Power Company board chairman to influence the solar tender, was dismissed. In 2024, leaked audio recordings linked Chivayo and associates to a USD 100 million contract for election materials supplied to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Beyond his business dealings, Chivayo attracted public attention for his extravagant spending. He spent over USD 9.3 million on luxury cars and gifts within a single year, with recipients ranging from broadcasters and musicians to football clubs and branches of Zimbabwe's security forces. His personal life was also subject to public scrutiny, with two children from his first marriage to Sonja Madzikanda and his second wife, Lucy Muteke.
Chivayo's family has reacted to his death, with relatives struggling to process the loss. The family spokesperson, Herbert Chivayo, released a statement, and police began investigating the circumstances surrounding the helicopter crash. Chivayo's death has sent shockwaves through the business community, with many reflecting on his complex legacy.
Chivayo's business empire had expanded beyond Zimbabwe, with significant operations in Kenya. His company had won a contract valued at approximately USD $172 million to build a 100-megawatt solar facility in Gwanda, Matabeleland South. Although the project was not completed, it demonstrated his ambition to expand his business footprint in the region.
Key points
- Wicknell Chivayo died in a helicopter crash at the age of 43, leaving behind a complex legacy of government contracts and courtroom battles.
- Chivayo's company had secured a stake in the proposed $2.89 billion USD expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.
- Chivayo had a history of court appearances, including convictions and allegations of bribery and corruption.
