Antony Chawagarira
HARARE — Members of the public have been invited to attend the burial of businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday afternoon.
The family has opted for a public burial, allowing relatives, friends, associates and others who knew the couple to pay their final respects.
Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo said preparations were progressing as the DNA identification process for victims of last week’s helicopter crash neared completion.
The five victims died when their helicopter crashed at a farm in the Marondera area last Thursday. Three families have positively identified their relatives and collected their remains for burial.
The body of Sanelisiwe Magagula, a former Zimbabwe National Army Special Forces member and family aide to the Chivayos, was transported from Doves Funeral Parlour to Lupane for burial.
According to Doves Holdings, members of the Johane Masowe Echishanu Apostolic Church conducted funeral rites at the parlour before her departure.
Magagula will be buried in Lupane, while pilot Calvin Soda will be buried at Igava Farm in Marondera. Co-pilot Courage Mutavirwa, who hailed from Chiredzi, will be buried in the Lowveld at Masimbiti Village on Sunday.
The deaths have sparked widespread grief, with tributes continuing to pour in for the couple and the other crash victims.
The Chivayo family said Harare was chosen as the couple’s final resting place so that those who knew them could remain close to their graves.
There will be no body viewing for Chivayo and Lucy because of the condition of the remains following the crash and the identification procedures that followed.
Chivayo, who was declared a provincial hero by the Mashonaland East provincial leadership, was widely known for his business interests, philanthropy and high-profile social engagements.
