Nocturnal 
A helicopter has crashed in Zimbabwe’s northeastern Marondera rural area, with the government confirming that all seven people on board died.
The crash happened on Wednesday, with police initially reporting that an aircraft carrying six people had gone down at around 5pm local time and that emergency services were attending the scene, according to Reuters.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana later confirmed on X that there were no survivors, and gave an updated death toll of seven. He said those on board included a high-profile businessman, four passengers and two pilots.
Reuters, which first reported the confirmation from Mangwana, has not named the businessman, and no official identification of any of those on board has been released at the time of writing.
Why Wicknell Chivayo is trending
Despite no official confirmation of names, searches for Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo have surged online in the wake of the crash, suggesting widespread speculation that he may have been connected to the flight.
It is important to stress this link is unconfirmed. Nocturnal News has seen no official statement from the Zimbabwean government, police or any authorised source naming Chivayo, or anyone else, as being on board the helicopter.
Chivayo is a well-known and sometimes controversial figure in Zimbabwean business circles, which may explain why his name has become attached to online chatter around the crash. Readers should treat any claims about his involvement as rumour until confirmed by officials.
What we know so far
The crash occurred in the Marondera rural area, in Mashonaland East province, northeast of the capital Harare. Police were first on the scene and initially reported six people aboard before the government’s updated figure of seven, which includes the two pilots.
No cause of the crash has been given, and it is not yet known what type of helicopter was involved or who operated it. Reuters’ Harare bureau, which has been covering the story, has not reported further details on the circumstances of the crash.
As this is a developing story, Nocturnal News will update this article with verified information as it becomes available, including any official identification of those who died.
Where things stand now
At this stage, the Zimbabwean government has confirmed there were no survivors from the crash and that seven people died, but has not released any names. Investigations into the cause of the crash are expected to follow, though no timeline has been given.
Anyone sharing unverified claims about who was on board the helicopter should be cautious, as these have not been confirmed by any official source.
