Zimbabwe's military establishment has experienced significant losses between 2017 and 2024, with several high-ranking generals passing away. These deaths have marked important transitions within the country's security structures, many coming during a period of political change following the 2017 military intervention that removed long-time leader Robert Mugabe from power.
Chimonyo was a liberation war veteran who played a prominent role in the 2017 coup that toppled longtime ruler Robert Mugabe. His military career spanned decades, including participation in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. Following independence, he held various positions within the Zimbabwe National Army.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba announced his death on Twitter, stating he had succumbed to cancer "after a long fight against cancer." Chimonyo's death came shortly after the burial of Major General (Rtd) Chiramba at the National Heroes Acre.
President Mnangagwa described Moyo as "a brilliant military instructor, who trained many cadres during the liberation war, including the current commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces." Moyo was instrumental in training over 5,000 recruits at Morogoro Training Camp between 1973 and 1976.
He was one of the early fighters who joined the liberation struggle in the early 1970s while still a young man, dedicated to freeing Zimbabwe from colonial rule. After joining the struggle, he went for military training in 1973 and later became an instructor in Morogoro, Tanzania. Following independence, he was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army.
Brigadier-General Moyo was buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare and was remembered for his role in forging unity among fighters across political divides during the liberation struggle.
SB Moyo became internationally known for announcing the military intervention against Robert Mugabe on national television during the 2017 coup d'état. His television appearance, in which he assured the nation that President Mugabe and his family were safe and that the military was only targeting "criminals" around him, earned him the nickname "General Bae."
Prior to entering politics, Moyo had a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant General. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master's in Business Administration from the Zimbabwe Open University.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa described him as central to the "peaceful transfer of power" during the 2017 November "restoration of the revolution," noting his "meticulous planning and execution" that "saved the nation from chaos and bloodshed."
Before joining the government, Shiri had commanded the Air Force of Zimbabwe for 25 years. He was another instrumental player in the 2017 coup that forced out Robert Mugabe. Following the change in government, President Mnangagwa retired Shiri from the military and appointed him to the cabinet.
Shiri was a liberation war veteran with a controversial past. He commanded the army's Fifth Brigade unit that carried out the 1980s massacres of thousands of civilians in western Zimbabwe during a period known as the Gukurahundi.
President Mnangagwa declared Shiri a national hero, describing him as a "liberation war stalwart" who had "served his country with distinction." The President noted that Shiri had worked hard during his brief stint as Minister of Agriculture, playing a key role in revamping the agriculture sector.
Air Commodore Peter Zimondi, Director-General of Administration in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, died in 2024. Zimondi was the brother of the late Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi and cousin to the late Air Force Commander Perrance Shiri.
According to reports, Zimondi passed away from injuries sustained in a road accident near Chitungwiza. His death followed those of his relatives who had died under what some sources described as mysterious circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The passing of these high-ranking military officers represents the gradual transition of leadership from the liberation war generation to newer military leaders, with implications for the country's political and security dynamics.
The deaths of several senior military figures within a relatively short period raised concerns in some quarters about national security and the well-being of Zimbabwe's armed forces leadership. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi expressed concern about the "rate of attrition" in the country's security sector and its potential impact on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and military morale.
Despite these losses, Zimbabwe's military has maintained its significant role in the country's governance and security structures, continuing the legacy of strong military influence that has characterized Zimbabwe's political landscape since independence.
Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chimonyo (1952-2021)
Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chakanyuka Chimonyo served as Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army from December 2017 until his death on July 8, 2021. He died of cancer at the age of 68 after a long battle with the disease. Prior to his appointment as Army Commander, Chimonyo was Zimbabwe's ambassador to Tanzania and was recalled after the November 2017 military intervention.Chimonyo was a liberation war veteran who played a prominent role in the 2017 coup that toppled longtime ruler Robert Mugabe. His military career spanned decades, including participation in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. Following independence, he held various positions within the Zimbabwe National Army.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba announced his death on Twitter, stating he had succumbed to cancer "after a long fight against cancer." Chimonyo's death came shortly after the burial of Major General (Rtd) Chiramba at the National Heroes Acre.
Brigadier-General Collin Moyo (Retired) (1954-2021)
Brigadier-General Collin Moyo, whose Chimurenga name was Rodwell Nyika, died on January 8, 2021. He passed away at the Hermatology Centre in Harare after a short illness at the age of 66. Moyo had retired from active military service in 1997 but continued to serve as a director in the Ministry of Defence and Welfare of War Veterans, responsible for Investigations, Vetting, and Inspectorate.President Mnangagwa described Moyo as "a brilliant military instructor, who trained many cadres during the liberation war, including the current commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces." Moyo was instrumental in training over 5,000 recruits at Morogoro Training Camp between 1973 and 1976.
He was one of the early fighters who joined the liberation struggle in the early 1970s while still a young man, dedicated to freeing Zimbabwe from colonial rule. After joining the struggle, he went for military training in 1973 and later became an instructor in Morogoro, Tanzania. Following independence, he was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army.
Brigadier-General Moyo was buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare and was remembered for his role in forging unity among fighters across political divides during the liberation struggle.
Lieutenant General Sibusiso Busi Moyo (1960-2021)
Lieutenant General Sibusiso Busi Moyo, commonly known as SB Moyo, died on January 20, 2021. He succumbed to COVID-19 at a local hospital. Moyo was serving as Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the time of his death, a position he had held since November 2017.SB Moyo became internationally known for announcing the military intervention against Robert Mugabe on national television during the 2017 coup d'état. His television appearance, in which he assured the nation that President Mugabe and his family were safe and that the military was only targeting "criminals" around him, earned him the nickname "General Bae."
Prior to entering politics, Moyo had a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant General. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master's in Business Administration from the Zimbabwe Open University.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa described him as central to the "peaceful transfer of power" during the 2017 November "restoration of the revolution," noting his "meticulous planning and execution" that "saved the nation from chaos and bloodshed."
Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (1955-2020)
Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (born Bigboy Samson Chikerema) died on July 29, 2020. His death at age 65 was attributed to complications from COVID-19 during the pandemic in Zimbabwe. At the time of his death, Shiri was serving as the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe, a position he had held since December 2017.Before joining the government, Shiri had commanded the Air Force of Zimbabwe for 25 years. He was another instrumental player in the 2017 coup that forced out Robert Mugabe. Following the change in government, President Mnangagwa retired Shiri from the military and appointed him to the cabinet.
Shiri was a liberation war veteran with a controversial past. He commanded the army's Fifth Brigade unit that carried out the 1980s massacres of thousands of civilians in western Zimbabwe during a period known as the Gukurahundi.
President Mnangagwa declared Shiri a national hero, describing him as a "liberation war stalwart" who had "served his country with distinction." The President noted that Shiri had worked hard during his brief stint as Minister of Agriculture, playing a key role in revamping the agriculture sector.
Other Notable Military Deaths
The period also saw the loss of other military leaders, including:Air Commodore Peter Zimondi, Director-General of Administration in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, died in 2024. Zimondi was the brother of the late Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi and cousin to the late Air Force Commander Perrance Shiri.
According to reports, Zimondi passed away from injuries sustained in a road accident near Chitungwiza. His death followed those of his relatives who had died under what some sources described as mysterious circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact on Zimbabwe's Security Landscape
These deaths occurred during a significant period in Zimbabwe's political history, following the military-led transition that brought President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power. Many of the deceased generals had played crucial roles in both the liberation struggle against colonial rule and in the post-independence military and political landscape of Zimbabwe.The passing of these high-ranking military officers represents the gradual transition of leadership from the liberation war generation to newer military leaders, with implications for the country's political and security dynamics.
The deaths of several senior military figures within a relatively short period raised concerns in some quarters about national security and the well-being of Zimbabwe's armed forces leadership. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi expressed concern about the "rate of attrition" in the country's security sector and its potential impact on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and military morale.
Despite these losses, Zimbabwe's military has maintained its significant role in the country's governance and security structures, continuing the legacy of strong military influence that has characterized Zimbabwe's political landscape since independence.
