Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke will be buried without their heads, family has confirmed.

Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo said the heads were not recovered at the crash site in Marondera after their helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Gandami and burst into flames on impact.

“There will be no body viewing.

“The heads were severed during the crash and bodies were badly burnt,” the family said.

The development means the burial, expected this week , will be a closed-casket ceremony with no viewing of the bodies.

Police have confirmed 5 people died in the crash, including Chivayo, his wife and 3 others.

The aircraft was reportedly flying from Harare east when it went down in a rural area, about 144km from the capital.

Sources close to the family say identification was only possible through DNA and personal effects due to the extent of the fire.

The announcement has shocked the nation and triggered debate online, with many Zimbabweans questioning the state of emergency response after reports that ambulance services took long to reach the crash site.

Police investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.