A custom-built Rolls-Royce Phantom valued at upwards of $550,000 has arrived in Zimbabwe two weeks after the burial of businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who was known for his extravagant lifestyle and high-profile connections with some of Africa's most powerful political leaders.
- Chivayo and his wife died in a helicopter crash on September 30, 2026, and the car had been in transit before his passing.
- A custom Rolls-Royce Phantom worth over $550,000 arrived in Zimbabwe shortly after businessman Wicknell Chivayo's death.
- His luxurious car collection and donations to public figures raised his profile, but reports emerged of $5.1 million in unpaid debts to car dealerships.
- He maintained close relationships with African presidents and political elites, and his death has prompted questions about the future administration of his estate.
The luxury vehicle arrived in Harare on October 23, 2026, more than three weeks after Chivayo and his wife died in a helicopter crash.
According to Zimbabwean publication Humanitarian Post, the Phantom was already in international transit when the businessman died, with customs clearance completed after his death.
Chivayo had commissioned the vehicle months earlier, selecting bespoke finishes and personalised number plates bearing "Wicknell" and "Chibaba", with comparable Rolls-Royce Phantom models costing between $550,000 and over $800,000.
The Phantom was intended to join his luxury car collection, which included a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Bentley Bentayga, two Lamborghini Urus SUVs, Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 and Range Rover Autobiography.
His spending extended beyond personal purchases, as he frequently gifted expensive vehicles to musicians, religious leaders and political figures.
However, his luxury car purchases have come under scrutiny following revelations about outstanding payments to several dealerships.
$5.1 million in dealership debt claims
According to Zimbabwean publication ZimLive, three luxury car dealerships in Harare were owed a combined $5.1 million for vehicles supplied to Chivayo before his death.
Faramatsi Motors accounted for the largest outstanding balance at $2.4 million, followed by Exquisite Cars at $1.4 million and Enterprise Car Sales at $1.3 million.
Sources familiar with the transactions said Chivayo obtained vehicles on credit, usually settling payments within three months, although Exquisite Cars owner Victor Vikela disputed the debt figures and said his company had written off any outstanding balance.
The disputed claims have raised questions about the management of Chivayo's estate, which includes luxury vehicles, property and business interests.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Beyond his luxury lifestyle, Chivayo, popularly known as Sir Wicknell, was a prominent Zimbabwean businessman whose interests in energy infrastructure and government contracts attracted public scrutiny.
Through Intratrek Zimbabwe, he secured a contract worth more than $170 million to develop a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Gwanda, southern Zimbabwe. However, project delays triggered legal disputes and raised questions about his government dealings.
His business interests also extended to Kenya, where reports linked his company, IMC Construction Kenya, to the proposed $2.9 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), although Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir denied its involvement.
Chivayo also maintained connections with influential African political figures, particularly Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose ruling ZANU-PF party he supported.
Connections with African presidents
Chivayo publicised encounters with several African leaders, including Kenya's William Ruto, Nigeria's Bola Tinubu, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema, Mozambique's Daniel Chapo, Malawi's Peter Mutharika and Eswatini's King Mswati III.
His interactions also extended to former Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera and Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu, although these encounters did not necessarily establish close personal relationships.
On September 30, 2026, Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, died in a helicopter crash near Marondera, east of Harare, killing everyone aboard. Zimbabwean authorities launched an investigation, while the couple were buried on October 8.
Following his death, Ruto described Chivayo as a close friend, paying tribute to his belief in Africa's potential.
"I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent," Ruto said.
Mnangagwa also mourned the couple, describing them as philanthropists whose generosity had benefited Zimbabweans.
"We are all shattered by this unexpected, sudden demise of so young a family and officers for whom so much promise held," Mnangagwa said.