Sunday Mail Reporter
IN life, Wicknell Chivayo was impossible to ignore. The flamboyant businessman and philanthropist lived boldly, gave generously and carried his signature style to the very end.
Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke-Chivayo and three others perished in a helicopter crash near Marondera on September 30.
On Thursday, Wicknell and Lucy will take their final journey to an equally distinguished address — Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park (SGFMP), the prestigious memorial destination on the northern edge of Harare being reimagined by Nyaradzo Life Assurance.
Their burial at the memorial park gives powerful meaning to Nyaradzo’s vision of creating a final resting place that goes beyond the traditional concept of a cemetery.
For Wicknell, whose life was characterised by an extravagant lifestyle, generosity and highly visible philanthropy, his final resting place is one of distinction.
Known for giving people cars, helping families secure homes and extending support to individuals and communities, Wicknell’s public life was marked by an extraordinary scale of giving.
His story was one of success, generosity and a willingness to use his resources to change the lives of others.
In death, that journey finds its final setting at Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park.
The best has been saved for last.
The park provides a fitting setting for a life that was lived on a grand scale, while also giving Lucy a dignified final resting place alongside her husband.
Their presence at the memorial park brings into sharp focus the very philosophy Nyaradzo seeks to establish, that a final resting place should be more than a burial ground.
It should be a place of dignity, peace, remembrance and legacy.
In May 2026, Nyaradzo Life Assurance acquired the former Glen Forest Memorial Park and rebranded it Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park (SGFMP), with plans to transform the site into a distinctive memorial destination for individuals, families, corporates and communities.
Nyaradzo Group Chief Solutions Officer Mr Philip Mataranyika told this publication that the project is about changing how people think about the spaces in which their loved ones are laid to rest.
“Glen Forest has always held meaning for many Zimbabweans. Our responsibility is to ensure that this space lives up to that meaning and takes it further. This is not simply a cemetery in the traditional sense. It is a place that must serve the living while honouring those who have departed,” said Mataranyika.
That vision is reflected in the planned development of the park, which includes a modern chapel, restaurant, crematorium, reflection garden, children’s play centre, running tracks and a fitness centre.
A digital memorial wall will give families a contemporary way to preserve the memories of their loved ones, while office facilities will provide visitors with the convenience of attending to professional commitments without leaving the park.
The intention is to create an environment where remembrance and life can exist alongside one another.
Because a funeral may mark the end of a life, but remembrance continues long afterwards.
Families return to graves, children learn about those who came before them, anniversaries are observed and stories are passed from one generation to another.
A final resting place therefore becomes part of a family’s heritage.
SGFMP is being developed around that understanding — creating a space where families can mourn with dignity, reflect in peace and preserve the memory of those they love.
The philosophy also connects with Mr Mataranyika’s broader approach to giving.
His philanthropic interventions have often been tangible, from helping people secure homes and providing vehicles to supporting individuals and communities in need.
The common thread has been the desire to create meaningful change in people’s lives.
SGFMP extends that philosophy into the realm of legacy.
A home provides shelter.
A vehicle can open opportunities.
Philanthropy can change circumstances.
A dignified memorial park provides families with a permanent place to honour and remember those whose lives mattered to them.
For Nyaradzo Group’s Head of Investment Solutions Mr Onismas Karakadzai, planning for the end of life should be accessible to every Zimbabwean family.
“Planning ahead for end-of-life is not a conversation reserved for the wealthy or the corporate. It is something every Zimbabwean family deserves to do with dignity. We want SGFMP to be a place that makes that possible for everyone,” said Karakadzai.
Grave plots at SGFMP are available for reservation, allowing individuals and families to make arrangements well in advance and secure a dignified, carefully maintained final resting place.
For Zimbabweans living abroad, the park adds another dimension to Nyaradzo’s Sahwira International Plan, which provides funeral assurance and repatriation support for Zimbabweans living in countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, the United States and Canada.
The transformation of Glen Forest into Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park forms part of Nyaradzo’s broader expansion into memorial parks and cemetery infrastructure, complementing its funeral services, life assurance, international coverage, events and lifestyle offerings.
Yet SGFMP represents more than a business expansion.
It is a statement about how people should be remembered.
The burial of Wicknell and Lucy gives that statement a particularly powerful expression.
A couple whose lives attracted considerable public attention are now being entrusted to a space designed around dignity, tranquillity and remembrance.
The cars, houses, possessions and symbols of a lavish lifestyle ultimately remain behind. What endures is the life that was lived, the people who were touched by it and the memories that remain.
As Nyaradzo marks 25 years in business, Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park represents the maturity of an organisation that has grown from providing funeral assurance into creating a broader ecosystem around life, death, remembrance and legacy.
“Twenty-five years in this business teaches you one thing above all else. Grief is not a single moment. It is a long road, and the spaces we build must honour the full length of that journey,” Mataranyika said.
Perhaps that is the true significance of Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park.
It is not simply where people are buried. It is where lives are honoured, memories are preserved and legacies are given a permanent home. For Wicknell and Lucy, the final resting place is Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park — a prestigious setting for a final farewell and a lasting home for their legacy.
SAHWIRA GLEN FOREST MEMORIAL PARK
INFORMATION PROFILE
Background and History
Glen Forest Memorial Park was established in 2002 under Kama Holdings Private Limited on Matidoda Farm and operated as Glen Forest Memorial Park. In 2009, ownership was transferred to Candrina Investments Private Limited and the memorial park continued operating under the Glen Forest brand. In May 2026, Nyaradzo Life Assurance acquired the memorial park and rebranded it as Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park. Following the acquisition, Nyaradzo Life Assurance also purchased the adjoining Chikomo Chemhute Farm, bringing both properties under the Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park estate.
Location and Size
The memorial park comprises approximately 84 hectares of land across the former Matidoda Farm and Chikomo Chemhute Farm. The large area provides capacity for current and future burial developments, landscaping projects, family memorial spaces and other strategic memorial infrastructure.
Growth and Development
Since its establishment, the memorial park has developed into one of the significant cemetery and memorial facilities in Zimbabwe. Continuous expansion, improved infrastructure, landscaping initiatives and enhanced customer service have contributed to its growth and reputation.
Burial Statistics
The memorial park currently has approximately 10 000 burials, reflecting its important role in serving families and communities over more than two decades.
Ownership Timeline
* 2002: Kama Holdings Private Limited established and operated the memorial park on Matidoda Farm.
* 2009: Candrina Investments Private Limited acquired the memorial park.
* May 2026: Nyaradzo Life Assurance acquired the memorial park and renamed it Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park.
* 2026: Acquisition of Chikomo Chemhute Farm expanded the memorial park estate.
Prominent Individuals Buried at the Memorial Park
The memorial park is the final resting place of several prominent individuals, including Walter Muparutsa; Israel Magwenzi (Founder and major shareholder of Kama Holdings Private Limited); Chinx Dick Chingaira Makoni; Amos Midzi; David Robert Martin; Ezekiel Guti Junior; Joe Mugabe; and Edzai Kasinauyo.
Vision and Significance
Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park serves as a place of remembrance, dignity, heritage preservation and community service. The memorial park continues to provide professional burial services while preserving memories of loved ones in a peaceful and well-maintained environment. Under Nyaradzo’s stewardship, the vision is to transform the cemetery into a world-class memorial park and memorial destination where remembrance, healing, wellness and community come together. This transformation seeks to create a tranquil environment that honours the lives of loved ones while supporting the emotional, social and psychological well-being of visiting families through thoughtfully designed amenities, beautiful surroundings and a renewed focus on comfort, reflection, connection and hope.
