Chivayo, Lucy to Be Buried Without Heads After Crash

By Staff Reporter

HARARE — Businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, will be buried without their heads after forensic examinations established that no recovered remains could be identified as their heads following last week’s helicopter crash.

The couple died in the September 30 helicopter crash at Kudenga Farm near Marondera, which also claimed the lives of pilots Captain Calvin Tafirei Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa and Chivayo’s aide, Senelisiwe Magagula.

Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed that the missing heads had not been recovered, dismissing reports circulating on social media that the remains had been found.

“There are some remains which forensic officials suspected to be head remains, but they found out that they were not. That’s the situation,” Herbert said.

He said the condition of the recovered remains meant that there would be no body viewing before burial.

Chivayo and Lucy are scheduled to be buried together at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday, October 8.

The burial is expected to be open to members of the public wishing to pay their final respects.

The two pilots were buried on Sunday, while Magagula is expected to be buried in Lupane.

Investigations into the cause of the crash remain ongoing.

The confirmation of the unrecovered heads comes as forensic teams continue the difficult process of recovering and identifying remains from the crash site, where the helicopter was destroyed by fire.