Wicknell Chivayo takes delivery of US$34 million Gulfstream G550 private jet

Wicknell Chivayo has taken delivery of a Gulfstream G550 private jet valued at approximately US$34 million, marking another high-profile display of wealth by the controversial Zimbabwean tenderpreneur. The aircraft, registered N550GA, was previously owned by Gulfstream Leasing and reportedly entered service in 2012. After months of anticipation, delivery followed interior customisation and possible repainting, according to aviation records. The jet's arrival comes as Chivayo has been frequently seen travelling on a Bombardier Challenger 300, raising questions about his broader aviation fleet. The purchaser's timeline previously pointed to January, but legal proceedings have also loomed large in his life.

Chivayo's new jet arrives amid ongoing legal battles with his estranged wife Sonja Madzikanda, including divorce proceedings and an anti-dissipation order that reportedly disrupted assets and operations in South Africa. In May he sought dismissal of the divorce suit, arguing their customary marriage dissolved in 2024 through gupuro. Court filings indicate the order affected bank accounts and the use of a Bombardier Challenger 300 registered as ZS-ACT, complicating obligations toward employees and children. Madzikanda pursues claims related to divorce, maintenance and asset division, with parallel proceedings in South Africa over assets in the matrimonial estate. A separate police case involving a device containing a compromising video involving President Cyril Ramaphosa has also drawn attention.