Massive crowds have gathered in Harare as family, friends,public figures and members of the public continue to mourn Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke.
Hundreds of mourners have been arriving at Chivayo’s Gletwyn residence with many dressed in white as funeral activities continue ahead of the couple’s burial.
The gathering has brought together people from different parts of Zimbabwe including business figures,musicians,sports personalities,church leaders and others who knew the late businessman.
Chivayo and Muteke died in a helicopter crash at Kudenga Farm near Marondera on September 30, 2026.
The crash also claimed the lives of pilots Captain Calvin Tafirei Soda and Captain Courage Matavirwa as well as Lucy’s aide, Senelisiwe Magagula.
The accident triggered a major mourning period in Zimbabwe with visitors continuing to stream to the Chivayo family residence in Harare.
The large turnout has reflected the businessman’s wide network across business,entertainment,sport and religious circles.The couple is scheduled to be buried at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday,October 8.
The burial will be open to members of the public, allowing mourners who wish to pay their final respects to attend.Their graves will be placed next to each other rather than in a single grave.
Funeral preparations have continued following forensic examinations and DNA identification of remains recovered from the crash site.
Because of the condition of the remains after the accident the family has also confirmed that there will be no viewing of Chivayo or Muteke’s bodies before burial.
The crash involved a fire after the helicopter went down,while authorities continue investigating what caused the aircraft to crash.The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has not established the cause of the accident.
As preparations move towards Thursday’s burial, mourners continue arriving in large numbers at the family home,where the white clothing worn by many attendees has become a visible feature of the funeral gathering.