Update: Zimbabwe tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and wife killed in helicopter crash

Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke have tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash near the city of Harare, according to family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo. The crash took place in the rural Marondera area, approximately 70 kilometers east of Harare, on Wednesday evening. All six people on board were confirmed killed, with police identifying two of them as pilots.

Chivayo, widely known as "Sir Wicknell", was the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe and had built a high-profile career through government contracts, philanthropy, and displays of wealth on social media. He was notably associated with a $172 million solar power project awarded to his company by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company, which sparked years of legal disputes.

Chivayo frequently interacted with African leaders, including Kenya's President William Ruto, and his death has been mourned by Kenyan officials who described him as a "dear friend". The cause of the crash remains under investigation.