01/10/2026
IN PICTURES
Six people have died after a helicopter crashed in Zimbabwe's Marondera rural area, east of the capital, Harare, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Zimbabwe's Chief Government Spokesperson, Nick Mangwana, confirmed the accident in a statement posted on X, saying all six people aboard the aircraft had died.
According to Mangwana, the helicopter was carrying a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots when the accident occurred.
Zimbabwean online publication ZimLive has reported that businessman Wicknell Chivayo was among those aboard the aircraft.
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono also claimed in a social media post that Chivayo and his wife had died in the crash. However, authorities have yet to formally confirm the identities of the victims.
Police said the helicopter crashed at approximately 17:00 local time, prompting an emergency response.
National Police Spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the victims' bodies were severely burned, making immediate identification difficult. He indicated that authorities would undertake formal identification procedures before releasing the victims' names.
Mangwana, who initially reported that the aircraft was carrying four passengers, subsequently updated his statement to clarify that there were six people aboard, including the two pilots.
The circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear, and the cause of the crash has not yet been established.
Authorities are expected to release further information as investigations continue.