- IMC workers reportedly walked off two key road construction sites in Marondera District on October 19, 2026, weeks after owner Wicknell Chivayo died in a plane crash
- Chivayo, who perished alongside his wife, an aide and two pilots on September 30, had set a December 2026 deadline for completing the roads
- Residents and road users now face uncertainty over whether the projects will resume or meet their original completion date
Workers employed by IMC, a construction company owned by the late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, reportedly walked off two road construction sites in Marondera District, raising fears that the projects may have been abandoned in the wake of their owner's sudden death.
Source: Facebook
The development was aired weeks after Chivayo perished in a plane crash on September 30.
Which company was working on Marondera road projects?
He was travelling with his wife, a personal aide and two pilots, none of whom survived.
At the time of his death, IMC was actively working on two roads in Marondera District, both viewed as critical infrastructure for residents and commuters in the area.
The company had publicly indicated that both projects were on course for completion in December 2026.
Marondera residents face uncertain wait with no official communication
The reported withdrawal of workers from the sites has cast serious doubt over that timeline.
It is not yet clear whether construction will resume under new management or oversight, or whether the projects will be taken over by another contractor entirely.
Marondera residents who have been waiting on the road improvements now face an uncertain wait, with no official communication yet on whether the work will continue.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Chivayo was a prominent and at times controversial figure in Zimbabwe's business landscape, and his sudden passing has left questions not only about the Marondera roads but about the broader fate of IMC's ongoing commitments.
As of the time of reporting, it remained unclear whether the company's operations would continue under new leadership, whether clients or government agencies had been notified, and who, if anyone, held authority to mobilise workers back to the sites.
The December deadline, already tight, now appears increasingly difficult to meet given the disruption caused by the owner's death and the apparent standstill at both construction sites.
UAE issues statement after Chivayo's death
In another story, TUKO also highlighted facts about the UAE’s statement of solidarity with Zimbabwe after a helicopter crash killed Wicknell Chivayo, his wife and three others.
The tragedy prompted tributes from several African leaders, including Kenya’s William Ruto and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, who remembered Chivayo as a friend and a visionary entrepreneur.
Source: TUKO.co.ke