A custom-made Rolls-Royce Phantom ordered by late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has reportedly arrived at his residence in Harare, weeks after his death in a helicopter crash that also claimed the life of his wife, Lucy Muteke.
The arrival of the luxury vehicle on Friday, October 23, 2026, has attracted attention online because the businessman did not live to receive the car he had commissioned months earlier.
According to reports by Briefly News and Tuko.co.ke, the bespoke vehicle arrived in Harare inside a large wooden crate after completing international shipping and customs clearance.
Images shared online reportedly showed the Phantom bearing a personalised registration plate associated with Chivayo, popularly known as Sir Wicknell. The businessman was widely recognised for his collection of expensive cars, lavish gifts and highly publicised lifestyle.
1. The Rolls-Royce Arrived Weeks After His Burial
The Phantom reportedly reached Chivayo’s residence on October 23, nearly a month after he died in a helicopter crash on September 30.
His death sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe and attracted widespread attention across Africa, particularly because of his prominence in business circles and his frequent social media displays of wealth.
The vehicle’s arrival after his passing has added an unusual chapter to the story of the businessman’s luxury car collection. What had been intended as another addition to his garage instead arrived after his death.
The car’s delivery was reported by several media outlets, although details of the purchase, including its final price and payment arrangements, should be treated cautiously unless confirmed by the seller or the family.
2. The Car Was Ordered Before His Death
Reports indicate that the Rolls-Royce Phantom was commissioned months before the fatal accident.
Bespoke luxury vehicles can require time for specification, production, shipping and delivery. In this case, the car was reportedly already moving through the international delivery process when the crash occurred.
The remaining shipping and customs procedures continued after Chivayo’s death, eventually bringing the vehicle to Zimbabwe.
The reported timeline helps explain why such an expensive purchase could arrive weeks after the person who ordered it had died.
However, the precise date the vehicle was ordered, its complete specifications and the identity of the party that received it have not been independently established in the reports cited here.
3. The Phantom Carried a Personalised Registration Plate
One detail attracting attention is the vehicle’s reported personalised registration plate associated with Chivayo.
Custom number plates were a familiar feature of the businessman’s public image. His luxury cars frequently appeared in photographs and videos shared online, making his vehicle collection part of his wider celebrity profile.
The new Phantom was reportedly designed to reflect his personal preferences, although a full specification sheet confirming its interior materials, exterior finish and other bespoke features has not been publicly established in the sources cited here.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the British luxury marque’s flagship models, known for its high level of customisation, handcrafted interior finishes and focus on passenger comfort.
For a buyer who publicly displayed a taste for high-end automobiles, a personalised Phantom would have represented another significant luxury acquisition.
4. Chivayo and His Wife Died in a Helicopter Crash
Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, died on September 30, 2026, when a helicopter crashed in Zimbabwe.
According to Associated Press reporting on the accident, the aircraft went down in the Marondera district, southeast of Harare. Authorities said there appeared to be no survivors.
The couple were subsequently buried on October 8, according to reports covering their funeral.
Their deaths brought an abrupt end to Chivayo’s highly visible public life. Tributes and reports about his wealth, charitable gifts and business activities continued to circulate in the days that followed.
The arrival of the Phantom has now renewed public discussion about the businessman’s collection of luxury vehicles and the arrangements surrounding his estate.
5. Questions Remain About the Car’s Future
Although the vehicle has reportedly arrived at Chivayo’s residence, its long-term ownership and management remain unclear from the available reports.
The car may become part of the assets administered by his estate, but that outcome should not be treated as confirmed without an official statement or documentation.
The delivery also highlights a practical issue that can arise when someone dies while major purchases are still in transit. International shipping, customs clearance and other contractual procedures may continue even after the original buyer is no longer alive.
For now, the reported arrival of the Phantom stands out as a striking postscript to Chivayo’s life and his well-documented passion for luxury vehicles.
While photographs of the car have fuelled online reactions, questions about its exact value, payment status and future ownership remain unanswered.
The story is likely to continue attracting interest as more information about the vehicle and the administration of Chivayo’s estate becomes available.
What do you think should happen to Wicknell Chivayo’s Rolls-Royce Phantom now that it has arrived in Zimbabwe? Share your thoughts in the comments.
