HARARE, Oct. 4: Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has mourned businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy “Lulu” Muteke Chivayo, two helicopter crew members and a security aide who died in a helicopter crash in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa expressed his condolences in two messages issued after the crash, describing the deaths as a sudden and devastating loss that had left the nation, his family and him personally in deep shock and grief.
The crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon in rural Marondera as the Chivayo family was returning from Gandami in rural Chikomba, where they had been involved in the construction of modern family and community structures. 
“The sudden and unexpected tragic passing on of Mr and Mrs Chivayo, two crew members and a security aide in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon left our Nation, my family, and me personally numbed and in deep shock and grief,” Mnangagwa wrote in his first message on Thursday.
“We are all shattered by this unexpected, sudden demise of so young a family and officers for whom so much promise held.”
The President described the Chivayo family as deeply philanthropic, saying their charitable work had touched numerous lives across Zimbabwe through donations and other acts of generosity worth millions of dollars.
He said Chivayo’s generosity reached people and institutions across politics, religion, public service, culture, sport and other professional fields.
According to Mnangagwa, Chivayo had a broad vision for his family, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and the wider African continent. He said the businessman contributed to the country’s engagement and re engagement efforts and helped promote Zimbabwe’s image beyond its borders.
Mnangagwa said Chivayo represented what he described as the Second Republic’s approach to indigenous enterprise combined with social responsibility.
“I am personally aware of numerous plans he had for our Nation and our people, principally the less privileged ones and our war veterans, whose social condition he diligently worked to ameliorate,” the President wrote.
He said Chivayo had shared some of his plans with him on Tuesday, following a Cabinet meeting, only a day before the fatal crash.
The President also linked the businessman’s work in Gandami to Zimbabwe’s rural development objectives, saying the family’s construction projects reflected the government’s approach of using investment, industrialisation, development and transformation to improve rural communities.
Mnangagwa later visited the Chivayo family home in Gletwyn, Harare, on Friday night together with senior government officials to convey condolences to the bereaved family.
“This evening, senior government officials, and I visited the Chivayo family home in Gletwyn, Harare, to offer our deepest personal condolences following the sudden and tragic passing of Mr. Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy “Lulu” Muteke-Chivayo, and three others,” he wrote.
He said the deaths of the two crew members and the security aide had also added to the country’s sense of loss, describing them as promising and dedicated individuals who died alongside the Chivayos.
“Wicknell was a man of grand vision, not just for his family, but for Zimbabwe and the wider African continent. The Chivayo family’s deep patriotism and selfless philanthropy transformed numerous lives across public service, religion, culture, and sport.”
Mnangagwa said the country stood with all the affected families during the period of mourning and called for unity, compassion and prayer following the tragedy.
“During this moment of profound heartbreak, we stand together in unity, compassion, and prayer with the bereaved families. May the Almighty comfort them and grant collective strength to our nation.”
He concluded both messages by extending his condolences to the families and praying for the deceased to rest in eternal peace.
