Senior Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi has reacted to the death of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, questioning what he described as the expected emergence of people claiming they had predicted the businessman’s death.
Nyakundi made the remarks in a post following reports that Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and other passengers died in a helicopter crash in Zimbabwe.
“Now the fake prophets will crawl out of every hole claiming they ‘predicted’ Wicknell’s death. 😂😂😂” Nyakundiwrote.
His comments appear to reference old social media posts that have resurfaced after the crash, including statements by individuals who had previously made claims about Chivayo’s possible death.
Nyakundi went further, suggesting that Chivayo’s public profile had changed significantly in the period before his death.
“But everyone knows Wicknell had become too full of himself, too loud, too everywhere and increasingly looked like a liability to some forces,” he wrote.
He then added: “Any sensible person watching the situation could tell something was cooking.” Nyakundi did not identify the specific “forces” he was referring to or provide evidence for the suggestion that Chivayo had become a liability to anyone but Chivayo's social media profile can point to disgusted friends.
The remarks come as Chivayo’s death continues to generate intense discussion on social media, particularly because of his high public profile and his links to business and political circles. His death has also brought renewed attention to previous statements and controversies surrounding him, with users examining old posts and comments involving the businessman.
Chivayo’s wealth and political connections had repeatedly placed him at the centre of controversy in Zimbabwe and beyond. He was linked to public procurement deals, including the long-running Gwanda solar project involving his company Intratrek, while prosecutors at one point accused him of transferring US$10,000 to a former Zimbabwe Power Company chairman in connection with the project. Chivayo denied wrongdoing, and he was later acquitted in the criminal case. His business dealings and close relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa continued to attract scrutiny, with critics questioning how he accumulated his wealth and the extent of his access to political power. He also faced scrutiny over election-related transactions and procurement activities.
Religion was another major part of Chivayo’s public image. He frequently described his generosity as an expression of his Christian and Apostolic faith, giving large amounts of money, luxury vehicles and other gifts to prominent religious figures.
In August 2026, United Family International Church founder Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa displayed a US$1 million cash donation from Chivayo, which the businessman said was meant to support the construction and development of the church. Chivayo had also given gifts worth millions of dollars to Zion Christian Church leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi and other religious figures, while some prominent recipients declined his offers.
One notable case involved Eunor Guti, who rejected an offer of US$2 million and a Toyota Land Cruiser. Chivayo repeatedly defended the donations as voluntary acts of faith and generosity, while critics questioned the source of his wealth and whether such extraordinary gifts could create political or social influence
At the same time, claims about prior knowledge, predictions or possible motives surrounding the crash remain separate from the confirmed fact of the accident. Unless supported by evidence from investigators or other credible sources, suggestions about what may have led to the crash or whether anyone anticipated it remain unverified.
Nyakundi’s post therefore adds another layer to the online conversation surrounding Chivayo’s death, challenging those who may now present old statements as proof that they knew what was going to happen while also raising questions about the businessman’s increasingly prominent public profile
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