What happened in the final hours before Wicknell Chivayo’s death?

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo spent part of his final day making a significant donation to Highlanders Football Club, just hours before he and his wife, Lucy Muteke, died in a helicopter crash in Marondera.

The 43-year-old businessman and his wife were among six people killed when a helicopter crashed in the Marondera Rural area at about 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

Police and government officials confirmed there were no survivors.

Chivayo’s US$250,000 Highlanders donation

Earlier on Wednesday, Highlanders FC announced that it had received a fresh US$250,000 (about R4.1 million) donation from Chivayo.

The figure is based on an exchange rate of about US$1 = R16.43 on 30 September 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Bulawayo-based club thanked Chivayo for his continued support, saying his contributions over the previous two years had now exceeded US$2 million (about R32.9 million).

Highlanders said the latest donation would help the club clear outstanding obligations to its playing staff and provide greater financial stability as the team looked to finish the season strongly.

The club also highlighted Chivayo’s previous assistance with staff obligations, infrastructure and the donation of a team bus.

The timing of Chivayo’s donation

The donation was made on the same day that Chivayo died.

According to reports, Highlanders chairman Kidman Ndlovu said the latest contribution was made at around 1pm, approximately four hours before the fatal helicopter crash.

That makes the donation one of the last publicly documented activities involving Chivayo before his death.

Highlanders’ statement also said the club was grateful for Chivayo’s confidence in the football institution as it celebrated its centenary year.

The club said it hoped to build an even stronger relationship with Chivayo as it entered the next 100 years of its history.

Chivayo was also active on social media on the day of his death.

In what has since been reported as his final social media post, he wrote about two lawyers who had supported him over many years and announced substantial gifts for them.

However, there is no evidence that his posts or donations were connected to the subsequent crash, and speculation about what he may have known beforehand remains unverified.

The fatal crash

At around 5pm, the helicopter crashed in rural Marondera.

Authorities have not yet established what caused the accident. Investigations are expected to examine the aircraft, flight path and circumstances surrounding the crash.

Chivayo’s final hours therefore included a major donation to a football club he had supported extensively, before the fatal accident brought his life to an abrupt end.