'Sir Wicknell' Chivayo - the Zimbabwean tycoon loved and hated in Africa
Zimbabwean tycoon Wicknell Chivayo has died in a helicopter crash, leaving behind a legacy marked by extreme wealth, controversy, and political influence. Known for his ostentatious displays of luxury, he was both admired for his generosity and criticized for his ties to the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Why it matters
His life and death highlight the stark wealth inequality in Zimbabwe and the complex relationship between private wealth and political patronage in African nations.
Image source, Zanu-PF Image caption, Wicknell Chivayo, who had a fleet of personalised luxury cars, loved white Rolls-Royces
Wicknell Chivayo, the Zimbabwean tycoon who died in a helicopter crash along with his wife Lucy Muteke last week, divided opinion in life and continues to do so in death.
He called himself "Sir Wicknell", a nod to the embellishment that epitomised his lifestyle - and a nickname some used for the 45-year-old who packed enough controversy into his short life to last several lifetimes.
He was relentlessly self-documenting, building much of his public persona on social media, where he posed with piles of cash and announced the cars and money he gave to people whom he considered deserving.
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