False reports circulating on social media and some online publications on Wednesday claimed that Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo died in a helicopter crash near Marondera. However, official sources and Chivayo himself have since confirmed these reports to be untrue.
The initial, incorrect reports alleged that Chivayo, his wife, and three other individuals were killed when their helicopter went down east of Harare. The fabricated news included a purported statement of condolence from Kenyan President William Ruto, which described Chivayo as a “dear friend.”
In response to the widespread misinformation, Kenyan State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed issued a public statement. On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Mohamed stated, “We have taken note of a fictitious statement on the death of a Zimbabwean national that is circulating on social media and maliciously attributed to President William Ruto. The statement is fake.”
Wicknell Chivayo also directly addressed the rumors to confirm he was alive. In a post on his Instagram account, he wrote, “Let me unequivocally state that I am alive and well. I was nowhere near a helicopter crash. I am currently out of the country on a business trip.”
Chivayo is the founder of Intratrek Zimbabwe, an energy and transportation company. He is a prominent public figure in Zimbabwe and has been involved in several large-scale government energy contracts that have been subjects of media coverage and public discussion.
The source of the false report has not been publicly identified. Authorities in Zimbabwe have not issued a formal statement on the origin of the misinformation at this time. The incident highlights the rapid spread of unverified information across digital platforms.
