The family of Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, has decided against a public viewing of their bodies before their burial after the fatal helicopter crash in Marondera.
Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo broke the news on Friday night, October 2, during a family meeting in their high-end family home in Harare, noting the extent of the damage to the bodies after the helicopter crash on Wednesday, September 30.
“The family has decided that there will be no viewing of the bodies,” said Herbert, according to K24 Digital and Radio Generation Kenya.
The decision does not apply only to Chivayo but also to his wife’s body as the family sorts out funeral arrangements. The family has been given permission by Lucy’s relatives to entomb the businesswoman and her husband in the same coffin, although this will only happen once the forensic process is complete.
The helicopter carrying the business magnate, his wife, their personal assistant, and two pilot guards crashed in Marondera Rural, south of the nation’s capital, Harare, on Wednesday, September 30. The accident resulted in the death of all six people on board.
Due to the severe damage to the bodies from the impact and fire, a forensic team examined the bodies to determine the cause of death.
According to Zimbabwe State Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) news, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will conduct post-mortems on the five bodies recovered from the wreckage as of Tuesday, October 2. Family members are being asked to come in and help identify the deceased.
In the meantime, police are investigating the cause of the fatal Marondera helicopter crash. According to news outlet CGTN, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe stated that the cause of the accident was still under investigation. However, they added that initial reports suggest that fuel may have leaked from the aircraft, caught fire, and contributed to the accident.
Relatives and well-wishers have traveled to Harare from across Zimbabwe to pay their respects to the business magnate and his wife and make funeral arrangements.