Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s death has continued to dominate conversations across Africa, with fresh attention now turning to his relationship with luxury Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co.
The luxury brand reportedly removed social media posts featuring Chivayo shortly after his death, prompting questions among social media users about why the company chose to take down the content.
Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, died on September 30, 2026, after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the Marondera area of Zimbabwe.
Authorities said all six people aboard the aircraft died, while investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing.
Jacob & Co deletes Chivayo posts
The development that has particularly caught the attention of social media users is the reported removal of Instagram content previously shared by Jacob & Co featuring the Zimbabwean businessman.
Chivayo had visited the luxury watchmaker’s Geneva headquarters in July 2026 after receiving an invitation from company founder Jacob Arabo.
During the high-profile visit, Chivayo reportedly purchased several timepieces worth approximately $4.3 million (about Sh556 million at the time).
Among the watches associated with the shopping spree was the Billionaire Double Tourbillon, reportedly valued at about $3.4 million.
The company had documented the visit on its social media platforms, showcasing Chivayo alongside its luxury timepieces.
Those posts were subsequently reported to have disappeared from the brand’s Instagram account following Chivayo’s death.
Jacob & Co has not publicly explained why the posts were removed, meaning there is no confirmed reason for the decision.
The timing has nevertheless generated considerable speculation online.
What Jacob & Co posted about Chivayo
The company’s social-media coverage of Chivayo’s Geneva visit formed part of the publicity surrounding his multimillion-dollar purchase.
The businessman himself also posted about the experience, drawing attention to the extraordinary amount he had spent on the watches.
In a caption reported by Kenyan media, Chivayo wrote:
“TIME IS MONEY… that awkward moment when you’re invited to the @Jacodandco1 factory by the owner @jacobarabo and you decide to spoil yourself with a few classic watches worth USD 4.3 million.”
The visit featured several of Jacob & Co’s extravagant models, including the Billionaire, Jean Bugatti Tourbillon, Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti Edition and Caviar Tourbillon Yellow Sapphire.
Jacob & Co is renowned for producing highly complicated, diamond-encrusted watches aimed at the ultra-luxury market.
The company’s own information about its Billionaire collection describes timepieces containing hundreds of diamonds and elaborate tourbillon movements.
The original Billionaire, for example, was created as a unique piece and carried a reported price of $18 million.
Chivayo’s luxury lifestyle
The Jacob & Co episode was consistent with the public image Chivayo cultivated during his lifetime.
The businessman frequently shared photographs and videos of expensive vehicles, watches, designer clothing, private aircraft and lavish properties on social media.
His luxury lifestyle also crossed into Kenya.
In August 2026, Chivayo attended the traditional engagement ceremony of President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, where he was photographed wearing a Jacob & Co Twin Turbo Furious Baguette timepiece reportedly valued at approximately Sh193.5 million.
The watch was reportedly one of only 18 pieces produced worldwide, adding to the attention surrounding Chivayo’s appearance at the high-profile event.
His broader collection reportedly included multiple luxury watches, expensive cars and private aircraft, reinforcing his reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s most conspicuous wealthy businessmen.
Why the deleted posts sparked debate
The removal of the Jacob & Co content has generated different interpretations online.
Some social media users questioned whether the company was attempting to distance itself from Chivayo following years of public debate surrounding his wealth and business dealings.
Others argued that deleting social-media content does not necessarily indicate anything improper and that the company may have had its own reasons for changing its online content.
Importantly, Jacob & Co has not said that it removed the posts because of allegations surrounding Chivayo, and the deletion itself does not establish wrongdoing by either the company or the late businessman.
Social media users nevertheless had plenty to say.
One user questioned why the brand would remove the posts after accepting Chivayo’s money, while another sarcastically asked how something could be deleted “quietly” when people had already noticed the change.
Other commenters debated Chivayo’s wealth and the controversies that had surrounded his public profile.
Chivayo’s wealth remained a subject of public debate
Chivayo’s fortune and business activities had attracted scrutiny long before his death.
He became particularly prominent through his government-related business interests, philanthropy and close relationships with influential political figures.
He also gained a reputation for giving expensive gifts, including vehicles, to prominent personalities, religious figures, sports personalities and ordinary Zimbabweans.
International media reports have noted that Chivayo faced allegations and scrutiny relating to government contracts and financial dealings, although he denied wrongdoing and some legal proceedings ended without convictions.
His relationships with African political leaders also brought him considerable attention.
The Times reported before his death that Chivayo had close associations with leaders including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Kenyan President William Ruto.
Death brings renewed scrutiny
Following his death, interest in Chivayo’s life, fortune and relationships has intensified.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa publicly confirmed Chivayo’s death and mourned the businessman, while reports from Zimbabwe identified Chivayo, his wife and other occupants of the helicopter among those killed in the crash.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, and the aircraft’s black box is reportedly being examined for clues.
For now, the mystery surrounding Jacob & Co’s deleted posts remains unanswered.
The luxury watchmaker has not publicly given a reason for removing the content, leaving the social-media speculation without a confirmed explanation.
What is clear, however, is that Chivayo’s association with the brand had become one of the most visible symbols of his extravagant lifestyle, and the disappearance of that content has ensured that his relationship with the luxury watch industry remains part of the conversation surrounding his legacy.
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