Lucy Muteke, popularly known as Lulu, died alongside her husband, Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, in the Marondera helicopter crash that killed all six people on board, cutting short a marriage that had captivated the Zimbabwean public since it began.
Muteke, whose full name is Lucy Muteke Chivayo, worked as a personal shopper in the luxury retail space, specializing in sourcing exclusive fashion and lifestyle items for private clients, a career that placed her within elite social circles even before her relationship with Chivayo became public.
Her romance with the businessman first came to light in December 2024, after he began sharing photos of the two of them together on social media, including images from a vacation in Victoria Falls.
The couple’s relationship quickly became a major talking point in Zimbabwe, culminating in a lavish lobola ceremony at her family’s home in Marondera, where Chivayo reportedly spent around 300,000 US dollars, although he later downplayed the exact figures reported in the media.
The two went on to hold a religious wedding ceremony within the Johane Masowe eChishanu congregation in 2025, with Chivayo showering her with gifts that included a top-of-the-range Range Rover and a 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Despite the public attention surrounding their relationship, Muteke maintained a relatively reserved profile compared to her husband’s flamboyant social media presence, occasionally appearing at formal events and family gatherings but generally steering clear of media engagement.
Chivayo’s ex-wife, Sonja Madzikanda, had publicly described Muteke as “absolutely beautiful” following the relationship’s reveal, even extending well wishes for the couple ahead of their wedding.
Muteke’s death alongside her husband in Tuesday’s crash brings a tragic end to a relationship that had played out largely in the public eye, with the couple’s story, from their Victoria Falls getaway to their widely covered wedding, now closing with their shared passing in the helicopter accident in Marondera.