HARARE — The absence of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga from the Chivayo family home following the death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo has raised questions, particularly because of the two men’s complicated history and Chivayo’s unusually close relationships with Zimbabwe’s political elite.

Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and other passengers died in a helicopter crash in Marondera on September 30, 2026. President Emmerson Mnangagwa later visited the family home in Gletwyn, Harare, where he described Chivayo as a personal friend and accorded him Provincial Hero status.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi also visited the Chivayo family residence on Sunday to offer her condolences.

Chiwenga, however, has not been publicly reported as having visited the homestead.

There has been no public explanation from Chiwenga or his office for the absence. It would therefore be speculative to conclude that his decision is directly connected to his past disagreements with Chivayo.

Nevertheless, the history between the two men makes the question difficult to ignore.

An Early Clash Over Miss World Zimbabwe

One of the earliest reported confrontations dates back to 2018, when Chivayo reportedly sought to donate to the Miss World Zimbabwe pageant.

At the time, Chiwenga’s then-wife, Marry, held the pageant’s licence. NewsDay reported that Chiwenga had stopped Chivayo from donating and that the businessman subsequently did not attend the event.

The episode provided an early indication that the relationship between the controversial businessman and the senior military and political figure was not always as close as Chivayo’s later public associations with Zimbabwe’s ruling elite might suggest.

The War Of Words

The relationship appeared to come under greater strain in January 2025.

While serving as Acting President, Chiwenga criticised wealthy individuals in Zanu-PF whom he accused of benefiting from ill-gotten wealth.

Chivayo subsequently took to social media to attack what he called “failed politicians”. Although he did not name Chiwenga,

NewsDay reported that the remarks were widely interpreted as being directed at the vice-president and represented an escalation in the war of words between rival political camps within Zanu-PF.

The confrontation intensified when Chiwenga increasingly criticised politically connected wealthy businessmen whom he referred to as “Zvigananda”.

In August 2025, Chiwenga again warned against a culture in which wealthy businessmen distribute vehicles and cash to individuals, saying such practices would not continue indefinitely.

A report on his remarks said Chiwenga had previously used the term “chigananda” in reference to individuals displaying sudden wealth without a clear or traceable source of income.

The 2025 Zanu PF Dossier

The dispute later moved beyond public speeches and social media exchanges.

Chiwenga personally authored a document presented to President Mnangagwa in September 2025.

A response by Zanu-PF’s legal secretary and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi explicitly identified Chiwenga as the author of the document.

The document was part of Chiwenga’s campaign against wealthy businessmen whom he accused of looting public coffers, corrupting party structures, and turning the president’s private office into a place where key government decisions were made.

Chivayo was one of the businessmen named in the document because of his political connections to the Mnangagwa administration, which drew widespread attention.

Then Came The Wedding — And A Different Story

Ironically, the history between Chiwenga and Chivayo is not simply one of hostility.

Chivayo and Chiwenga were publicly photographed together at the vice-president’s December 2023 wedding to Miniyothabo Baloyi.

And in 2026, Chivayo himself offered a markedly different account of their relationship.

In an interview reported in May, Chivayo said the vice-president’s office had approached him about providing luxury vehicles for the wedding.

Rather than accepting payment, Chivayo said he supplied six Rolls-Royces free of charge.

He reportedly described Chiwenga as “my father” and said the vice-president would not pay for the cars.

So Why Has Chiwenga Not Visited?

This is where the story becomes less certain.

Chiwenga’s absence from the Chivayo homestead is notable, particularly after Mnangagwa and Vice President Mohadi publicly visited the family.

Currently, there is no public statement from Chiwenga regarding his absence, nor is there any evidence suggesting that the decision stemmed from his previous conflicts with Chivayo.

Indeed, Chivayo’s own account of their relationship, published months before his death, suggests that whatever disagreements existed, he did not necessarily regard the relationship as irreparably broken.

The contrast is striking.

There was a public political confrontation in which Chiwenga criticised wealthy businessmen, and Chivayo retaliated by attacking “failed politicians.” However, Chivayo later expressed admiration for Chiwenga and claimed that he provided six Rolls-Royce cars for Chiwenga’s wedding without accepting any payment.

That makes Chiwenga’s absence an unanswered question rather than proof of an ongoing feud.

A Relationship That Changed

The available record therefore points to a relationship that evolved considerably over time — from an early reported disagreement over a Miss World Zimbabwe donation to public political exchanges and allegations of a deeper fallout, while still retaining evidence of personal and social ties.

Chivayo’s death has now brought that complicated history back into focus.

For now, however, only Chiwenga or his office can explain why the vice-president has not publicly visited the Chivayo family home.

Until an explanation is provided, linking his absence directly to past clashes with Chivayo remains speculative.