Duty Beyond Borders: Sir Wicknell’s South African VIP Security Stand Guard Over Daughter at Gletwin Burial

Reported By: Society & Security Desk | Location: Gletwin, Harare
Focus: Cross-Border VIP Protection & Family Vigil | Published: Friday, 9 October 2026

While thousands watched the final, tearful farewell to late business mogul Sir Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo and his wife Lucy “Lulu” Muteke at Gletwin on Thursday, a quiet, striking scene unfolded away from the speeches: elite private VIP bodyguards flown in from South Africa formed a human wall around the family, with one stone-faced operative refusing to leave the side of Wicknell’s grieving young daughter until the final shovel of soil was laid.

South African VIP bodyguard watching over Sir Wicknell Chivayo's daughter at Gletwin burial

THE FINAL DETAIL: Towering South African VIP security personnel joined mourners at Gletwin, maintaining strict close-protection duties around Sir Wicknell's daughter throughout the emotional burial ceremony.

A Silent Guardian in the Swarm Amid intense media scrums, dignitaries, and thousands of weeping mourners, the South African operative stayed glued within arm’s reach of Chivayo’s daughter—shielding her view from flashing cameras and creating a calm, impenetrable barrier of dignity for the child during her darkest hour.

The couple, whose lives were cut short in the tragic helicopter crash at Kudenga Farm in Marondera on 30 September, were laid to rest side-by-side on October 8. Yet for observers on the ground, the South African security presence opened a rare window into the scale and reach of Wicknell’s private network across the Limpopo.

Did You Know? The Unseen South African VIP Muscle

Beyond the high-profile public appearances in Harare, Sir Wicknell maintained an extensive personal infrastructure across South Africa—including an elite tier of private security personnel who answered directly to him.

Few outside Sir Wicknell Chivayo’s inner circle were aware of just how deeply embedded his security operations were south of the border. Known for frequent travels, medical visits, and high-value transactions in Johannesburg and Sandton, the flamboyant businessman relied on a handpicked, highly trained South African VIP protection team whenever he was in the Republic.

Following the devastating news of the 30 September crash, these men did not simply send floral tributes. They flew directly into Zimbabwe to stand vigil at the burial of their principal—not out of contractual obligation, but out of personal allegiance to a boss who had treated them as family.

More Than an Employer-Staff Bond “Sir Wicknell was a boss who looked after his men properly,” an associate close to the arrangements remarked quietly at Gletwin. “When things like this happen, you see who really valued the man. Those boys travelled up here because they felt a duty of honour.”

The Silent Vigil: A Guardian Angel for Wicknell’s Daughter

While mourners chanted, sung, and jostled for a final glimpse, one particular South African close-protection officer drew the respect of everyone who noticed his quiet, stoic duty.

Shielding the Little One from the Chaos Funerals of larger-than-life figures can be overwhelming for children. Dressed in immaculate dark tactical attire, the South African operative never once took his eyes off Wicknell’s daughter. He stayed close, gently blocking overzealous smartphones, parting mourners through tight walkways, and ensuring the young girl felt safe amid the sea of grief.

From the Chapel to the Graveside From the morning proceedings right through to the final lowered casket at Gletwin, the bodyguard remained stationary right behind the little girl. When other mourners sat down exhausted by the midday heat, the security operative stood rigid, acting as her personal shield until the family convoy departed.

From Kudenga Farm to Gletwin: A National Shockwave

The funeral marked the painful culmination of a week of shock that gripped Zimbabwe. On the afternoon of Wednesday, 30 September, the helicopter carrying Sir Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy “Lulu” Muteke came down under catastrophic circumstances at Kudenga Farm in the Marondera district.

There were no survivors. The sudden passing of the philanthropist and self-styled “Big Preacher,” alongside his partner, left his business associates, family, and thousands of ordinary beneficiaries in profound disbelief.

The burial at Gletwin on Thursday, October 8, brought together people from all walks of life: church elders from his beloved apostolic sect, political elites, ordinary Zimbabweans whose lives he had touched through vehicle donations and cash gifts, and foreign associates who crossed borders to say goodbye.

Rest in Peace, Big Preacher and Lulu

A Bond Tested in Life, Proven in Death The presence of those South African bodyguards—and their tender, unyielding protection of a little girl left behind—became one of the most powerful, unspoken eulogies of the entire service. It proved that behind the flashy social media lifestyle, Sir Wicknell had earned the kind of loyalty that money alone cannot buy.

As the dust settles over the hills of Gletwin, prayers continue to pour in for the children and extended families bearing the heavy weight of this double tragedy.

FINAL FAREWELL | GLETWIN

Go Well, Big Preacher & Lulu

To the late philanthropist Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo and his beloved wife Lucy “Lulu” Muteke: your journey on this earth was bold, generous, and unforgettable.

May God provide divine comfort, strength, and continuous protection to the young children and family left in your wake.

Rest in Peace. Zororai murugare.

Read About the Vigil at Gletwin

MAESTRO HEADLINES | NATIONAL DISPATCH & SOCIETY DESK