Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s personal life attracted almost as much public attention as his business ventures. Over the years, his relationships, family life and lavish lifestyle became widely discussed, particularly his relationships with Sonja Madzikanda and Lucy “Lulu” Muteke.
Chivayo and Sonja Madzikanda were together for several years and had two children. Their relationship included a customary marriage ceremony in 2017, with reports at the time stating that lobola had been paid.
However, the relationship eventually ended, leading to a complicated legal dispute. Chivayo later told the court that the customary union had formally ended in 2024 through the traditional process involving a gupuro, a token associated with the dissolution of a customary marriage.
### Legal battle involving Sonja
The breakdown of Chivayo and Sonja’s relationship eventually became the subject of court proceedings in Zimbabwe. Sonja reportedly pursued a settlement that included US$25 million, monthly maintenance of US$40,000, luxury vehicles and properties.
The former couple also became involved in legal proceedings concerning their children and parental access.
In April 2026, the High Court approved a consent arrangement that required Chivayo to provide a US$5 million package for the children. The agreement also established arrangements concerning parental access, while broader property-related issues were left for further proceedings.
In June, Sonja said the High Court had ruled that she and Chivayo had never been legally married. At the time, however, the written judgment had not yet been made publicly available.
### Chivayo’s marriage to Lulu Muteke
While his legal dispute with Sonja continued, Chivayo had already entered another chapter of his personal life.
He married Lucy “Lulu” Muteke in 2025. Lulu was known publicly as a model, personal shopper and social media personality. Their relationship and wedding attracted considerable attention, with the couple frequently associated with Chivayo’s extravagant lifestyle.
Videos and photographs of Chivayo surprising Lulu with expensive gifts and luxury vehicles later became widely circulated on social media, particularly after news of their deaths.
### Fatal helicopter crash
Chivayo and Lulu were reportedly among six people who died when a helicopter crashed in Zimbabwe’s Marondera district on 30 September 2026.
The crash brought renewed attention to Chivayo’s personal life, with old photographs and videos of the couple resurfacing online.
Their relationship histories have since been discussed alongside the legal proceedings involving Sonja, the children and the events surrounding Chivayo’s second marriage.
The developments have also prompted reactions from members of the public, with some focusing on the differences between the two chapters of Chivayo’s relationships, while others urged people to show respect to the families affected by the tragedy.
Chivayo’s relationships therefore remain an important part of the public story surrounding his life, spanning his years with Sonja, their children and subsequent court proceedings, before his marriage to Lulu and the couple’s final months together.
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