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Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

A TRAINING aircraft, Karakorum-8 (K-8), belonging to the Air Force of Zimbabwe, crashed in the Guinea Fowl area near Gweru, resulting in the death of the young trainee pilot on board.

In a statement on Thursday, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, expressed his grief over the death of Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza.

“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is saddened to announce the death of a young pilot, Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza, who died after the (K-8) jet trainer aircraft that he was flying crashed in the Guinea Fowl area in Gweru,” he said.

Gen Sibanda said the unfortunate accident happened when the pilot was on a solo consolidation general handling navigation training.

He said the news of the death of Air Lieutenant Tambudza had been received with heavy hearts and that all officers and members were in mourning over the sad loss of a talented pilot.

“On behalf of officers, men and women of the ZDF, the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces wishes to express his heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of our departed officer, Air Lieutenant Tambudza,” he said.

Gen Sibanda said Air Lieutenant Tambudza was a young pilot who had demonstrated immense potential and was therefore selected to undergo a jet flying conversion training course at Number 2 Squadron, Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru.

He said at the time of his death, he was in the final phases of training on the K-8 jet.

“The accident occurred about 5km East of Guinea Fowl and on impact with the ground the aircraft was extensively damaged.

There were no civilian casualties and damage to property on the ground,” he said.

Gen Sibanda said in the meantime, the Air Force of Zimbabwe has constituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident.

He said arrangements for the funeral parade and burial for Air Lieutenant Tambudza will be announced in due course.