Three other Marondera helicopter crash victims named

Story By Lulu Brenda Harris

Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire has publicly identified the five people killed in Wednesday’s helicopter crash, which also claimed businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteki. It is the first official confirmation of who was on board.

Machakaire named Chivayo, Muteki, Senelisiwe Magagula, Captain Kelvin T. Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa. Magagula worked as an aide to Muteki.

What the minister said

Machakaire said the Bell 430 helicopter was flying from Chikomba to Harare when it went down.

“I write this with a deeply broken heart following the tragic loss of five precious lives aboard the Bell 430 helicopter flight from Chikomba to Harare,” he said on his X page.

“It is difficult to find words for a tragedy of this magnitude. They left their loved ones never knowing that it would be their final journey.”

He added that five families now mourn people they expected to come home.

“My heart and deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of Mr Wicknell Chivhayo, Mrs Lucy Chivhayo (née Muteki), Miss Senelisiwe Magagula, Captain Kelvin T Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa,” he said.

“May God hold every grieving family close and give them strength through these darkest hours.”

Five victims, six on board?

Government earlier confirmed there were no survivors. Police said six people were aboard when the aircraft came down in Marondera Rural at around 5pm on Wednesday.

Machakaire’s list names five victims. A member of Chivayo’s security team, who flew in a second helicopter, told ZBC that Chivayo’s aircraft carried five people: Chivayo, his wife, Magagula and the two pilots. Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo, Wicknell’s brother, gave the same account at the crash scene.

“The other three were the two pilots and Mr Chivayo’s aide,” Herbert said.

Security member’s account of the final flight

The security member’s account offers the first detailed picture of the moments before the crash. Nobody has independently verified it, and it forms no part of the aviation investigation’s findings.

Chivayo’s party flew to Gandami in Chikomba on Wednesday in two helicopters. His security team left Gandami separately at about 4.20pm for the return flight, and both aircraft planned to stop in Marondera before continuing to the capital.

Weather worsened during the flight. Pilots of both helicopters discussed it and the option of changing route. Eventually, the security helicopter landed in Marondera because of the conditions.

Chivayo’s pilot reported he was in “bad cloud” and later said he was taking another route and was roughly 10 minutes from his destination. Security staff tried to find out which destination he meant but got no reply.

After landing in Marondera, they phoned those aboard Chivayo’s helicopter without success. Assuming bad weather had forced it down elsewhere, they went on to Harare to pick up vehicles and return for the group. They learned of the crash only after arriving in the capital.

“We tried calling them on their phones but there were no answers,” he said.

“We decided to go to Harare and take vehicles. We thought they had landed because of bad weather and were grounded.”

Family account

Herbert Chivayo said the family also heard that the helicopter ran into heavy cloud after leaving Gandami. Chivayo’s aircraft continued towards Harare while the security helicopter landed in Marondera. Residents later told the family they saw the aircraft fall and burst into flames.

“They said they saw it falling and turning and found it on fire,” he said.

Scene and investigation

Emergency services, police and aviation officials attended the scene. Investigators cordoned it off and began examining the wreckage. Herbert described the recovery as extremely difficult because of the condition of the bodies, saying rescuers found some remains in separate pieces around the site.

Machakaire said the deaths had left the families facing an unimaginable loss.

“Life can be painfully fragile and unpredictable. Today five families are carrying a pain that words cannot adequately describe,” he said.

“Gone too soon. May their souls rest in eternal peace and may their memories forever live in the hearts of those who loved them.”

Forensic experts and aviation investigators arrived at the site on Thursday to establish what caused the crash. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Director-General George Mashababe joined other officials visiting the scene.

Mashababe said early observations suggest the helicopter struck the ground, spilling fuel that then ignited. He stressed that the investigation continues.

The crash happened at about 5pm near Waddilove Mission in Marondera Rural, roughly 70 kilometres east of Harare.

Reporting based on original coverage by Cite.