Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 183
- 97
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined regional leaders in mourning Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, sending a condolence message to President Emmerson Mnangagwa as Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan made a brief and closely guarded visit to Harare to pay her respects.
Zimbabwean presidential spokesman George Charamba confirmed that Ramaphosa, Kenyan President William Ruto and President Hassan had conveyed their condolences following the September 30 helicopter crash near Marondera that killed Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and three others.
“Thank you Presidents Ruto, Hassan and Ramaphosa for commiserating with us,” Charamba said on X.
The developments have placed Chivayo’s extensive relationships with African political leaders back in the spotlight ahead of his burial at Glen Forest Cemetery on Thursday.
Hassan arrived in Harare on Tuesday aboard a Tanzanian government aircraft and travelled directly to the Chivayo family’s Gletwin residence, where mourners had gathered.
Read also Rais Samia adaiwa kufika Zimbabwe, Nyumbani kwa Chivayo kutoa Heshima za mwisho. Vyombo vya Habari vyadhibitiwa
Her visit was conducted with tight security and little public disclosure. Journalists and mourners were reportedly instructed not to photograph or record the visit, although footage of her motorcade later circulated online.
Hassan spent just over 30 minutes at the Chivayo home before reportedly paying a courtesy call on Mnangagwa and returning to the airport. She spent less than three hours in Zimbabwe.
Her decision to travel to Harare came as she was expected to attend the opening of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, where around 2,000 parliamentarians from around the world are gathered. Instead, Hassan delivered a pre-recorded address.
The visit highlights the extent of Chivayo’s connections beyond Zimbabwe. The businessman had publicly displayed relationships with several African leaders, including Hassan and Ruto, while also sharing photographs of engagements involving leaders from countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria.
His relationship with Ramaphosa, however, has previously attracted particular attention.
In May, Chivayo was seen travelling in the same helicopter as Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa during a trip from Harare to Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe. The encounter triggered controversy in South Africa after reports linked Chivayo to a South African law-enforcement investigation.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, subsequently said the South African president had not known that Chivayo would be present and was not familiar with him.
The presidency said Ramaphosa had travelled to Zimbabwe for a meeting with Mnangagwa and had no prior knowledge of who would be present.
Chivayo later rejected claims that he was wanted by South African authorities, describing the controversy as “manufactured” and insisting that he had not committed any crime.
Against that background, Ramaphosa’s decision to send condolences following Chivayo’s death is likely to draw renewed public attention to the businessman’s relationships with political leaders across the region.
Meanwhile, Chivayo’s family says foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral.
Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo said the government had informed the family that foreign dignitaries would be among those attending, although he did not disclose their identities.
“We are expecting them from today onwards. As Zimbabweans, we must demonstrate that we can mourn in peace and in unity,” he said.
Chivayo and Lucy will be buried side by side at Glen Forest Cemetery on Thursday, October 8, following the completion of forensic and DNA identification procedures. The family has said the funeral will be open to members of the public.
Zimbabwean presidential spokesman George Charamba confirmed that Ramaphosa, Kenyan President William Ruto and President Hassan had conveyed their condolences following the September 30 helicopter crash near Marondera that killed Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and three others.
“Thank you Presidents Ruto, Hassan and Ramaphosa for commiserating with us,” Charamba said on X.
The developments have placed Chivayo’s extensive relationships with African political leaders back in the spotlight ahead of his burial at Glen Forest Cemetery on Thursday.
Hassan arrived in Harare on Tuesday aboard a Tanzanian government aircraft and travelled directly to the Chivayo family’s Gletwin residence, where mourners had gathered.
Read also Rais Samia adaiwa kufika Zimbabwe, Nyumbani kwa Chivayo kutoa Heshima za mwisho. Vyombo vya Habari vyadhibitiwa
Her visit was conducted with tight security and little public disclosure. Journalists and mourners were reportedly instructed not to photograph or record the visit, although footage of her motorcade later circulated online.
Hassan spent just over 30 minutes at the Chivayo home before reportedly paying a courtesy call on Mnangagwa and returning to the airport. She spent less than three hours in Zimbabwe.
Her decision to travel to Harare came as she was expected to attend the opening of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, where around 2,000 parliamentarians from around the world are gathered. Instead, Hassan delivered a pre-recorded address.
The visit highlights the extent of Chivayo’s connections beyond Zimbabwe. The businessman had publicly displayed relationships with several African leaders, including Hassan and Ruto, while also sharing photographs of engagements involving leaders from countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria.
His relationship with Ramaphosa, however, has previously attracted particular attention.
In May, Chivayo was seen travelling in the same helicopter as Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa during a trip from Harare to Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe. The encounter triggered controversy in South Africa after reports linked Chivayo to a South African law-enforcement investigation.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, subsequently said the South African president had not known that Chivayo would be present and was not familiar with him.
The presidency said Ramaphosa had travelled to Zimbabwe for a meeting with Mnangagwa and had no prior knowledge of who would be present.
Chivayo later rejected claims that he was wanted by South African authorities, describing the controversy as “manufactured” and insisting that he had not committed any crime.
Against that background, Ramaphosa’s decision to send condolences following Chivayo’s death is likely to draw renewed public attention to the businessman’s relationships with political leaders across the region.
Meanwhile, Chivayo’s family says foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral.
Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo said the government had informed the family that foreign dignitaries would be among those attending, although he did not disclose their identities.
“We are expecting them from today onwards. As Zimbabweans, we must demonstrate that we can mourn in peace and in unity,” he said.
Chivayo and Lucy will be buried side by side at Glen Forest Cemetery on Thursday, October 8, following the completion of forensic and DNA identification procedures. The family has said the funeral will be open to members of the public.