Temba Dube
Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday paid her condolences to the Chivayo family following the death of businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke-Chivayo and three others in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.
Dr Mnangagwa visited the Chivayo residence in Gletwin, Harare, to mourn the businessman, who has since been declared a provincial hero.
Visibly moved by the loss, the First Lady struggled to contain her emotions as she mourned Chivayo, whose death has left many who knew him grieving.
Dr Mnangagwa joined the Chivayo family and members of the Johane Masowe congregation in mourning a son and daughter-in-law whose lives and work had brought members of the religious sect together.
She also had the opportunity to meet Chivayo’s two children, who arrived with their mother, Sonja Madzikanda. In her eulogy to the mourners, Dr Mnangagwa described Chivayo as a unifier whose work cut across the whole spectrum of society.
The First Lady said Chivayo’s work, influence and subsequent death were felt not only in Zimbabwe but beyond the country’s borders.
“During his time, he did a lot. We have many things to learn from him. He was strong spiritually, particularly on issues to do with his church, Johane Masowe WeChishanu Apostolic sect. He was a unifier; he did not want to see the church divided. He would bring people or strangers together,” she said.
“He had an appeal to everyone. He would carry the burden for many families, providing them with their needs. He would even go to other churches despite him being a member of the Apostolic sect. Upon his death, he had united the nation; he has elevated the Apostolic sect. We need not destroy his legacy. If we do so, it will not augur well with him wherever he is.”
Dr Mnangagwa said Chivayo improved the lives of many ordinary people.
“He transformed a lot of lives, helped the starved get food, the sick get medication and all that.”
The First Lady said through the work Chivayo carried out, which left a rich legacy, he had ceased to be only a child of the Chivayo family but a child of the whole nation and beyond.
“He was no longer just a child of Chivayo, but for the whole country, and even those beyond our borders are mourning with us,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said Chivayo’s philanthropic work was evident and could hardly go unnoticed.
“The loss of a child is quite painful. His work was quite evident; it was there for all to see. He never segregated any person, be it vendors, those living with disabilities, the elderly or those in need,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said she was still struggling to believe that Chivayo was gone.
“Wicknell has left us. I am struggling to come to terms with his demise. Sometimes I expect to get his call, but nothing will come. It is quite painful. We pray God to give us strength. Wicknell, you have left a trail of mourning for many people in and outside the country because of what you did for them. Several people would give different testimonies on how much help they got from you,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa urged mourners to remember Chivayo for the positive impact he made in the lives of others, while acknowledging that, like anyone, he may not have been without his shortcomings.
“He had a huge talent. Let us remember and commend him for the good work he did. Of course, he was human and might have had his own mistakes, but we ought to look at the bigger picture and the great works he did,” said Dr Mnangagwa.
“He did a lot of work, particularly philanthropic work.”
Wicknell’s uncle, Justice Naison Chivayo, thanked the First Lady for taking time to console the family.
He said the fact that the First Lady came early in the morning showed how much she was touched by Wicknell’s death, which had seen her prioritising paying condolences ahead of everything else.
“She valued Wicknell greatly. She came early. We are very grateful as a family. We know that you are a busy person,” he said.
Justice Chivayo also thanked the Government for conferring provincial hero status on Chivayo, a gesture he said showed how the Government appreciated his work.
Another relative, Mrs Marilyn Chikuni, thanked the First Lady for visiting them during their time of grief.
“We do not take the visit by the First Lady for granted. We are quite grateful,” said Mrs Chikuni, who is Chivayo’s maternal aunt.
The funeral wake was attended by members of the Johane Masowe eChishanu leadership, friends and relatives.
They included Madzibaba Lawrence Katsiru, Madzibaba Moses Gwasarira and Madzibaba Israel Muhana.
Chivayo died alongside his wife Lucy Muteke and three others in a helicopter crash in Marondera on Wednesday.
He has been declared a provincial hero and will be interred with the full honours that go with the status.
