Wicknell Chivayo has taken delivery of a Gulfstream G550 private jet valued at approximately US$34 million, marking the latest display of wealth by the controversial tenderpreneur whose business dealings and legal disputes have frequently attracted public attention.
Chivayo announced the arrival of the aircraft in Zimbabwe through a video posted on social media, showing the jet landing after months of anticipation.
According to aviation records, the aircraft, bearing registration number N550GA, was previously owned by Gulfstream Leasing, a United States-based company. Flight tracking data indicates that the jet first entered service in 2012.
The Gulfstream G550 is regarded as one of the world’s leading long-range business jets.
Equipped with twin Rolls-Royce BR700 engines, it can travel approximately 12,500 kilometres without refuelling, carry between 14 and 19 passengers, cruise at altitudes exceeding 41,000 feet and reach speeds of up to 941 kilometres per hour.
Aviation sources said Chivayo completed the purchase in January, but delivery was delayed while the aircraft underwent interior customisation and possible repainting.
The acquisition comes after months in which Chivayo was frequently seen travelling aboard a Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet. It remains unclear whether that aircraft will continue to form part of his aviation fleet.
The arrival of the new jet coincides with ongoing legal battles involving Chivayo and his estranged wife, Sonja Madzikanda.
In May, Chivayo approached the High Court seeking the dismissal of divorce proceedings initiated by Madzikanda, arguing that their customary marriage had already been dissolved in 2024 through the payment and acceptance of gupuro, a traditional divorce token recognised in Shona custom.
The businessman contends that the litigation has triggered significant financial consequences after South African courts granted an anti-dissipation order targeting assets linked to him.
Court papers filed by Chivayo claim the South African order has disrupted business operations, frozen company bank accounts and affected the use of a Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft registered as ZS-ACT.
He argues that the restrictions have impaired his ability to meet commercial obligations, pay employees and comply with maintenance commitments relating to the couple’s children.
Madzikanda, meanwhile, is pursuing claims relating to the dissolution of the marriage, maintenance and the division of assets.
The dispute has also spilled into South Africa, where legal proceedings are continuing over assets allegedly forming part of the matrimonial estate.
In a separate development earlier this year, Madzikanda was arrested after Chivayo reported to police that she had allegedly stolen a device containing what he described as a compromising video involving South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Madzikanda denied the allegations and claimed the complaint was linked to a broader dispute between the former couple.
The controversy centred on an alleged video purportedly showing Ramaphosa meeting Chivayo before a recent official visit to Zimbabwe, an issue that generated significant discussion in South African political circles.
Throughout the legal battles, Chivayo has remained a prominent figure on social media, where he frequently showcases luxury vehicles, gifts and business acquisitions.
The arrival of the Gulfstream G550 now places him among a small group of private individuals in the region operating long-range intercontinental business jets.
Despite the ongoing litigation and scrutiny surrounding his business affairs, Chivayo’s latest acquisition is likely to reinforce his reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s most flamboyant and high-profile businessmen.
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