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Wicknell Chivayo, the Zimbabwean businessman who died in a helicopter crash in rural Marondera on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, posted a lengthy tribute to his legal team just hours before the fatal accident, words that have since haunted thousands of his followers.
The post, titled "Appreciating Relationships Built Over Decades… Saved the Best for Last," ran to several hundred words and read as a sweeping farewell to the lawyers who had stood beside him throughout his rise from hardship to national prominence.
In the message, Wicknell Chivayo singled out senior attorney Wilson Tatenda Manase of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, recalling how their relationship stretched back to 1998, a time when Chivayo was renting a single room in Hillside and struggling to find his footing. He described Manase not merely as a legal adviser but as a "father figure, mentor, brother, adviser and trusted confidant."
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To mark his gratitude, Chivayo gifted Manase a brand-new 2026 Lexus GX 550, valued at $220,000, fully paid and ready for collection, plus $250,000 in cash.
He then turned to Advocate Sylvester Hashiti, who had already received three cars from Chivayo over the years. A fourth gift followed: a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography, accompanied by a pledge of $500,000 in cash. Chivayo noted that Hashiti's courtroom declaration, "I represent the President," alone warranted an extra $250,000. The post ended with warm congratulations to both men and a prayer of thanks for their loyalty.
See the Facebook post below:
It was the post's opening phrase that stopped people cold once news of the Marondera helicopter crash began to spread. The reflective, almost valedictory tone of the entire message took on a chilling new weight in light of what followed.
YEN.com.gh compiled some reactions below.
@AmosChiton42044 wrote:
@hofstadterzw quoted the post's headline back and wrote:
@charlesduncan14 said:
@Rook1800 simply asked:
The combination of the post's timing, its introspective language, and the extraordinary scale of the parting gifts has made it one of the most discussed final social media messages in recent Zimbabwean public life. Chivayo was among six people killed in the Marondera crash.
YEN.com.gh also reported that Wicknell Chivayo's family, through Herbert Chivayo, has reacted to the sad news.
According to the family spokesperson, relatives were struggling to process the loss, as police began addressing what is known about the crash.
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Jeffrey Owusu-Mensah (HOD Entertainment)
Jeffrey is the Head of the Entertainment Desk and a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He started as a reporter with Ghana News Agency (GNA). He joined Primnewsghana.com in 2016 as an editor. He moved to YEN.com.gh in 2017 as an editor and has risen to his current position. You can contact him via e-mail: j.owusu-mensah@yen.com.gh
Source: Music
