Sh591 million convoy: Inside Wicknell Chivayo’s Rolls-Royce-studded final ride

The Rolls-Royces came first.

Then came the Mercedes-Benz hearses, a Ford Raptor, more Rolls-Royces, Range Rovers and Toyota Land Cruiser 300s, forming a procession so lavish that even by Wicknell Chivayo’s standards, his final ride was difficult to miss.

Exiting the gate of his lavish expansive estate, a fleet of some of the world’s most expensive vehicles accompanied the remains of the flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke.

The sprawling procession, which was joined by high-end cars driven by friends escorting him to his resting place, moved through Harare ahead of the couple’s burial at Glen Forest Memorial Park on Thursday. The fleet featured four Rolls-Royce Cullinans, two Rolls-Royce Phantoms and four Ghosts.

Three Mercedes-Benz hearses, including a G-Class and GLS, as well as an E-Class, were also part of the line-up, carrying the remains of the duo.

The fleet was completed by multiple Range Rovers and Toyota Land Cruiser 300s.

The spectacle was fitting for a man whose public image had long been intertwined with expensive cars, watches, clothes and shoes.

Chivayo made no secret of his keen taste for luxury. His social media pages often showcased his expensive preferences, while he became quickly popular across Zimbabwe and beyond for giving away vehicles and other expensive gifts.

On Thursday, as his funeral procession moved through Harare, the same flamboyance that had followed his public life became part of his final farewell.

And it came with a staggering price tag.

According to published prices online, the identifiable luxury vehicles in the convoy carry a combined value of about $4.55 million, equivalent to roughly Sh591 million.

The estimate is based on the listed starting prices of the models identified in the procession and does not include the additional Range Rovers and Land Cruiser 300s.

According to Rolls-Royce pricing data, a 2026 Ghost starts at US$355,000. Four of them would therefore represent about US$1.42 million, or approximately Sh184 million.

The four Cullinans add another US$1.68 million, based on a starting price of US$420,000 each, according to automotive pricing data.

Two Rolls-Royce Phantoms account for another US$1.06 million. Kelley Blue Book lists the 2026 Phantom from US$530,350.

Together, the ten Rolls-Royces in the identified line-up account for about US$4.16 million, or roughly Sh540 million, before options and customisation.

The Mercedes-Benz vehicles add another sizeable amount.

Mercedes-Benz’s official website lists the 2026 G 550 from US$153,900, the GLS 450 from US$90,250 and the E-Class E 350 from US$63,900.

Converted using the Central Bank of Kenya’s indicative exchange rate of Sh129.94 to the US dollar, those identified vehicles alone come to approximately Sh591 million.

Rolls-Royce vehicles are heavily customisable, and the price can rise significantly once owners add bespoke interiors, special paintwork, upgraded wheels and other options. Import duties, taxes, shipping and registration would also affect what the vehicles ultimately cost in Zimbabwe.

Even the manufacturer’s starting prices, however, give a sense of the scale.

The convoy was a glaring reflection of the image Chivayo had built around himself, one where extraordinary wealth, luxury vehicles and conspicuous generosity were central to his public persona.

The 43-year-old businessman became a prominent figure in Zimbabwe through his business dealings, political connections and lavish displays of wealth.

He frequently shared images of himself with senior politicians and celebrities, while his high-value gifts turned him into a major social media personality.

Chivayo had cultivated relationships with several African presidents including President William Ruto and had built a public image around luxury giveaways, including cars and large sums of money.

Just hours before his death, he had posted photographs of two luxury vehicles he said he was giving to his lawyers, alongside US$750,000 in cash.

That post would become one of the last examples of the extravagant lifestyle that had made him one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable businessmen.

Days later, that same extravagance was visible in a very different setting.

The procession eventually made its way to Glen Forest Memorial Park, where Chivayo and Lucy were laid to rest side by side.

For a man whose life was so closely associated with luxury, it was perhaps the final detail that stood out most.

And even on his last journey, the Rolls-Royces came first.