The death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo has renewed public interest in almost every part of his colourful life, including the women who were romantically linked to him.
Chivayo’s wealth, constant travelling and enormous social-media presence made him a regular target for dating rumours. However, the businessman strongly denied several of the alleged relationships attached to his name.
The confirmed relationships were with his former partner Sonja Madzikanda and his second wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke. Other women, including South African influencer Mihlali Ndamase and a Zimbabwean socialite identified as Mazvi, were linked to him through social-media speculation.
None of those alleged relationships was independently confirmed.
Mihlali Ndamase rumours exploded in South Africa
In March 2024, social media erupted with claims that Chivayo was dating popular South African influencer Mihlali Ndamase.
The rumours started after both Chivayo and Mihlali appeared to be visiting Miami at around the same time. Several gossip accounts immediately concluded that they were travelling together.
Posts on X described Chivayo as Mihlali’s new boyfriend. Some accounts also claimed he had taken the influencer on a luxury holiday.
However, no photographs showed them together. There was also no verified travel information or public statement connecting their trips.
Chivayo responded by firmly denying the alleged relationship.
He described the rumours as ridiculous and said he did not know Mihlali personally or through any of his business associates.
The businessman blamed an attention-seeking social-media account for creating the story after he displayed his 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre online.
Mihlali also reacted to the controversy. She welcomed Chivayo’s clarification and warned people against circulating harmful claims without evidence.
Therefore, despite the attention the story generated in South Africa and Zimbabwe, no proof emerged that Chivayo and Mihlali had ever dated.
Zimbabwean socialite Mazvi was also linked to Chivayo
The same social-media claims connected Chivayo to a young Zimbabwean woman identified only as Mazvi.
Online commentators referred to her as a socialite or “slay queen”. However, little reliable information emerged about how the alleged relationship supposedly began.
Chivayo addressed the Mazvi rumours alongside the Mihlali claims.
He said he did not know either woman and apologised to them for being dragged into the controversy. He also expressed concern about the damage that false relationship stories could cause to their families and partners.
Mazvi did not become as heavily involved in the public exchange as Mihlali. Nevertheless, her name continued appearing in articles and social-media discussions about Chivayo’s private life.
Once again, no credible evidence established that Mazvi had been Chivayo’s girlfriend.
Tariro Gezi denied flirting with him
Zimbabwean influencer and radio personality Tariro Gezi was also linked to Chivayo after screenshots of an Instagram conversation appeared online.
The leaked messages were circulated alongside claims that Chivayo had been contacting socialites and married women.
Gezi confirmed that she had communicated with the businessman. However, she denied flirting with him or having any romantic relationship.
According to Gezi, she contacted Chivayo while trying to help musician Greatman secure an electric wheelchair.
She said the conversation ended there and that she had never called or met Chivayo in person.
Chivayo disputed the wider batch of leaked messages, describing them as malicious fabrications intended to damage his reputation.
As a result, the publicly available information does not support claims that Gezi was one of Chivayo’s girlfriends.
Sonja confirmed their marriage had broken down
While Chivayo denied dating Mihlali and Mazvi, his marriage to Sonja Madzikanda was falling apart.
In March 2024, Sonja confirmed that she and Chivayo had not been together for some time.
The couple had spent several years together and had two children. Their separation attracted intense public attention because of Chivayo’s wealth and the legal questions surrounding their marriage and property.
At the time, rumours about Mihlali circulated alongside speculation about the cause of the breakup. However, neither Chivayo nor Mihlali confirmed an affair.
Chivayo later maintained that his relationship with Sonja had ended because they were no longer compatible. He also said they would continue working together as parents to their children.
Lucy Muteke became his confirmed new partner
By December 2024, Chivayo had publicly moved on with Lucy Muteke.
He initially teased the relationship by posting pictures of a mystery woman while hiding her face. Personalised water bottles bearing the name “Lulu” led social-media users to speculate about her identity.
Chivayo’s sister later revealed that the mystery woman was Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, a Zimbabwean model and influencer.
Unlike the Mihlali and Mazvi stories, Chivayo openly confirmed his relationship with Muteke.
He said she brought peace and companionship into his life. Furthermore, he praised her for accepting his apostolic faith and sharing his vision for the future.
The couple held traditional marriage celebrations in Marondera in March 2025. Chivayo regularly shared pictures of Muteke aboard private aircraft, attending church and travelling with him across Africa.
Their highly publicised relationship continued until their deaths in a helicopter crash near Marondera on 30 September 2026.
Rumours often followed Chivayo’s luxury lifestyle
Chivayo’s romantic life became easy material for gossip because he lived almost every part of his life online.
His private jets, Rolls-Royces, foreign holidays and friendships with celebrities constantly placed him at the centre of public attention.
Nevertheless, social-media speculation did not automatically make every woman pictured near him a girlfriend.
The available record confirms Sonja as his former partner and Muteke as the woman he later married.
Meanwhile, Mihlali Ndamase, Mazvi and Tariro Gezi were publicly linked to him through rumours or disputed messages. Chivayo denied the alleged relationships, while Mihlali and Gezi also rejected the claims involving them.
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