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Columbus Mabika, Herald Reporter

AIR Commodore (Retired) Peter Gedion Sheik Zimondi, who died last Friday, will be buried today at Chikerema Village in Hwedza, Mashonaland East Province.

Air Commodore Zimondi succumbed to injuries sustained in a recent road traffic accident.

He was 65.

A full military funeral parade was held on Monday at Manyame Air Force Base on the outskirts of Harare in his honour.

Speaking at the funeral parade, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe, Air Marshal Jacob John Nzvede, said the force was saddened by Air Commodore Zimondi’s death.

“Our hearts are filled with deep sorrow as we gather here at Manyame Air Force Base to bid farewell to the late Air Commodore (Retired) Peter Gedion Sheik Zimondi,” he said.

“The news of his passing on was a devastating blow for the entire Air Force of Zimbabwe because of the professional and personal connections that we all had with him.”

Air Commodore Zimondi was born on November 11, 1959, at Waddilove Mission Hospital in Marondera, as the sixth child in a family of 12.

He completed his primary education at Warikandwa Primary School before proceeding for secondary education at Mount St Mary’s Mission and Kwenda Mission. At the dawn of Zimbabwe’s independence, the political leadership had the vision to indigenise critical areas such as the defence forces.

To this end, the leadership embarked on an expansive drive to recruit gifted young men and women who were then sent for training in friendly countries.

One such young man was Air Commodore Zimondi.

During the ceasefire period, he went to Rushinga Assembly Point together with other politically conscious and determined youths.

In 1981 and at the age of 22, he was selected to be part of a group of young trainees to undergo training in Nigeria.

Upon his return in 1982, he was attested into the AFZ as an Air Sub Lieutenant and rose through the ranks to become an Air Commodore in 2018. An Air Commodore is the equivalent rank to an army Brigadier-General.

He held several challenging appointments throughout his career, chief among them being Base Commander at Manyame Air Force Base.

He is survived by four children.