Wicknell Chivayo, Lulu To Be Buried Without Heads – Family

Wicknell Chivayo, Lulu To Be Buried Without Heads – Family

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lulu will be buried without their heads, which were not recovered from Wednesday’s helicopter crash, the family has said.

Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo said the couple will be buried side-by-side at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday (8 October 2026).

He said the bodies of the five victims, including two pilots and a security aide, were badly burnt after the helicopter went down in misty conditions at Kudenga Farm in Marondera.

“The bodies were burnt until the fire died on its own, so you can imagine what the status is like,” Herbert said. “They were beyond recognition.”

He said forensic officials had initially suspected that some recovered remains were parts of heads, but examination ruled this out.

“I have seen on social media people saying that the heads were found, but that’s not true. No head was found,” he said.

Chivayo was returning from his rural home in Chivhu, with a planned stop in Marondera, when the helicopter crashed. A final message from the pilot indicated they were struggling to exit clouds.

The two pilots were buried on Sunday. Co-pilot Courage Mutavirwa was buried in Chiredzi, while Calvin Soda was buried in Marondera. Security officer Senelisiwe Magagula is due to be buried in Lupane on Monday (5 October 2026).