Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo reportedly made a series of significant gifts to two of his longtime lawyers just hours before his death in a helicopter crash in Marondera.
According to reports circulating after the fatal incident, Chivayo presented the two lawyers with luxury vehicles as well as a substantial amount of cash. The reported gifts have attracted attention because they were allegedly made shortly before the businessman boarded the helicopter that later crashed.
Among the vehicles reportedly gifted were a 2026 Lexus GX 550, estimated to be worth approximately R3.62 million, and a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography, valued at around R1.90 million.
In addition to the luxury vehicles, the two lawyers were reportedly given cash amounting to approximately R12.34 million. The reported value of the gifts therefore runs into tens of millions of rand when the vehicles and cash are considered together.
Chivayo was known in Zimbabwe for his high-profile business activities and public displays of wealth. His name had frequently been associated with expensive cars, luxury properties and large financial transactions, making the reported gifts consistent with the extravagant lifestyle for which he was publicly known.
The timing of the reported gifts has added another layer of interest to the circumstances surrounding his death. Within hours of allegedly making the gifts, Chivayo boarded a helicopter that subsequently crashed in the Marondera area.
The helicopter reportedly went down in rural Marondera, Zimbabwe, with several people on board. Chivayo was among those reported to have died in the crash. His death has since prompted an outpouring of reactions from people who knew him, as well as members of the public who followed his business activities.
Reports have also indicated that his wife, Lucy Muteke, was among those believed to have died in the helicopter accident. Authorities said an aircraft carrying six people crashed in the Marondera area at around 5pm, with investigations into the circumstances of the incident continuing.
The reported gifts to Chivayo’s lawyers have since become part of the wider public discussion surrounding the businessman’s final hours. However, details surrounding the transactions, including the exact circumstances in which the money and vehicles were handed over, would need to be confirmed by the relevant parties.
The helicopter crash has left questions about what happened during the final moments of the flight, while authorities work to establish the cause of the accident.
For those who knew Chivayo professionally and personally, the reported events surrounding his final day have added to the sense of disbelief following his sudden death. What was reportedly a major financial gesture to longtime associates shortly before the journey ended in tragedy has now become one of the notable details surrounding his final hours.
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