Businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, who died in a helicopter crash last Wednesday, are set to be buried on Thursday, the family has confirmed.
Family spokesperson Hebert Chivayo said the burial had been delayed by the forensic identification process, as authorities worked to establish which remains belonged to each of the victims.
Hebert said some of the deceased victims had already been collected by their families, with only Wicknell and Lucy’s remains still awaiting collection.
“We have been delayed by the forensic team who were identifying whose body part belongs to who. Other family members of the deceased have already collected their relatives’ bodies. Only Wicknell and Lucy’s remains are left,” he said.
The family has also confirmed that there will be no body viewing for Chivayo and Muteke because of the condition of their remains following the crash.
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Speaking to mourners at the Chivayos’ Gletwin mansion on Friday evening, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa paid his last respects, Hebert described the crash scene at Kudenga Farm near Marondera as deeply traumatising.
He said the impact and subsequent fire left the victims with severe injuries, while the remains were badly burnt and dismembered, making the identification process particularly difficult.
“When we arrived at the scene, human flesh and body parts were scattered everywhere. It was a gory scene,” he said.
“Even the heads were severed during the accident and the bodies were badly burnt.”
The forensic identification process was therefore necessary before the remains could be released to the respective families.
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