The final journey of Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, is set to begin this week, with the couple scheduled to be laid to rest at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Chivayo and Muteke died on September 30 following a helicopter crash in Marondera, sending shockwaves across Zimbabwe and sparking an outpouring of grief from relatives, friends, business associates and members of the public.
The couple’s funeral arrangements were confirmed by family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo on October 3.
According to the family, the burial ceremony will be open to members of the public, allowing mourners from across the country to gather and pay their final respects to the couple.
The decision to open the funeral to the public is expected to draw a large crowd, particularly given Chivayo’s prominent public profile and his involvement in philanthropic initiatives.
For many Zimbabweans, the businessman was a familiar figure whose name was often associated with high-profile charitable donations and support for various community and national causes.
His death, alongside that of his wife, has therefore generated widespread public interest, with tributes continuing to emerge as preparations for the burial get underway.
The couple’s deaths came after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Marondera on September 30. Their passing marked a sudden end to the lives of two people who had maintained a visible presence in Zimbabwean social and business circles.
As the family prepares to lay them to rest, Glen Forest Cemetery will become the centre of attention on Thursday, with mourners expected to converge on the Harare burial site to honour the couple.
The family has welcomed members of the public to attend, turning what would ordinarily be a private family farewell into a wider moment of remembrance.
The burial will bring to a close days of mourning following the tragic crash, as relatives, friends and members of the public come together to remember Chivayo and Muteke and offer their final farewell.