Harare, (New Ziana) – There will be no body viewing for the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, when they are laid to rest on Thursday because their bodies are in a terrible condition after the fatal helicopter crash in which they died.
The couple is expected to be buried together at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare, with relatives saying the decision to forgo body viewing was because their bodies were dismembered in the crash.
The family’s spokesperson, Herbert Chivayo, gave mourners a glimpse into the horrific circumstances surrounding the recovery of the victims in remarks contained in a widely circulating video in which he was speaking to mourners.
He said the condition of the remains was too distressing for the traditional viewing ceremony to be held.
“Their bodies were strewn in pieces and the accident really scared us because when we went to the scene of the crash, it was just pieces everywhere. Burial will go ahead and there will be no body viewing.”
While the family has confirmed that the burial will proceed, Chivayo’s head had, at the time of Herbert’s remarks, still not been recovered, raising the possibility that the businessman could be buried without it.
The missing remains are understood to be part of the difficult recovery and identification process following the crash, which left the victims with severe injuries and remains that were difficult to recover and identify.
Chivayo, his wife and three others died after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed at Kudenga Farm in the Marondera area on September 30.
The aircraft had been travelling from the Gandami area in Chikomba, where Chivayo had a rural home, when it went down. The impact and fire that followed left the victims’ remains severely damaged, complicating the process of identification.
Chivayo, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, was well known for his high-profile lifestyle, business interests and charitable activities.
New Ziana
