A custom-built Rolls-Royce Phantom, valued at an estimated KSh 72 million, has reportedly arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, touching down on October 23, 2026. This luxurious arrival comes approximately 15 days after its owner, the flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo, was laid to rest.
The ultra-luxury vehicle was in international transit when Chivayo, 43, tragically perished alongside his wife Lucy Muteke and four others in a helicopter crash in the Marondera District on September 30, 2026. Final customs clearance for the bespoke Phantom was only completed after his passing, meaning the man who ordered it was no longer alive to receive it.
The couple’s funeral on October 8, 2026, at Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare, drew thousands of mourners. Chivayo’s casket notably featured a Rolls-Royce-inspired front grille and was marked “WMC 777”, while Lucy’s bore a Mercedes-inspired design inscribed with “LULU”, reflecting the couple’s well-documented affinity for luxury. The Phantom itself had been commissioned well in advance of his untimely death, intended to be the crown jewel of his already staggering fleet.
Key Players Involved
- Wicknell Chivayo: Late Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist.
- Lucy Muteke: Chivayo’s late wife.
- Humanitarian Post: Source reporting on the customs clearance.
Event Timeline
- September 30, 2026: Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, and four others die in a helicopter crash in Marondera District.
- October 8, 2026: Chivayo and Muteke are buried at Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare.
- October 23, 2026: The custom-built Rolls-Royce Phantom arrives in Harare.
- October 25, 2026: News breaks regarding the car’s arrival after Chivayo’s burial.
