Thursday, June 5, 2025
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
No Result
View All Result
Home News

The Turbulent Life of President Mnangagwa: A Story of Helicopters, Close Calls, and Air Force Angst

June 3, 2025
0
The Turbulent Life of President Mnangagwa: A Story of Helicopters, Close Calls, and Air Force Angst

 

In a dramatic turn of events, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s VIP helicopter crash-landed in 2021, leaving him shaken but not stirred. The incident, caused by a technical failure, forced an urgent landing that endangered the President’s life. Mnangagwa was returning from his Pricabe Farm near Sherwood in Kwekwe when the chopper was forced down.

The near-tragedy prompted an immediate and angry reaction from the President, leading to a swift overhaul of his security protocols. Investigations revealed serious weaknesses in communication between the President’s crew and the Air Force of Zimbabwe, exposing vulnerabilities that Mnangagwa was determined to rectify. The incident also raised questions about the safety and maintenance of the presidential aircraft.

The incident quickly became politically sensitive, with the NewsHawks media outlet facing a harsh backlash for breaking the story. Security forces launched a witch hunt to identify the leak, suspecting an inside job, which led to the reporter being hounded and forced out of his home. This heavy-handed approach has been widely criticized, with many questioning the government’s priorities.

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. The Air Force of Zimbabwe has suffered numerous aircraft accidents in recent years, reflecting deep systemic issues. In September 2024, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashed during takeoff at Masvingo Airport while preparing to transport Mnangagwa from Bikita to Harare. This incident is just one of many that have plagued the Air Force.

Zimbabwe’s Air Force has endured a troubling pattern of crashes and fatalities, including the loss of several pilots and senior officers. The deterioration of the Air Force can be traced back to the heavy demands and losses incurred during Zimbabwe’s involvement in the Second Congo War from 1998 to 2003. Since then, the Air Force has struggled to recover, with aging aircraft and inadequate funding taking a toll on its operations.

The Air Force’s woes continue to mount, with recent incidents including:

– May 2025: Retired Squadron Leader Retswanetsi Vuyo Ncube died when his Chengdu J-7/F-7 supersonic jet crashed near the Gweru-Mvuma road during a training sortie.
– September 2023: Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza was killed in a crash involving a Karakorum-8 jet trainer near Gweru.
– February 2023: A fatal SF-260 trainer crash occurred in Gweru.
– April 2021: A deadly Bell 412 helicopter accident in Ruwa claimed three lives onboard and a child on the ground.

In a move to modernize his aerial fleet, Mnangagwa was gifted a Mil Mi-38 VIP helicopter by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. However, the aircraft has not entered service due to ongoing pilot training. The Zimbabwean military has also sought assistance from the Nigerian Air Force to address technical deficiencies and replace obsolete equipment.

The growing number of accidents and the decline in operational readiness present serious national security concerns. The Air Force’s diminished capacity restricts Zimbabwe’s ability to effectively respond to emergencies, defend its borders, or participate fully in regional peacekeeping efforts. Will the government invest in and reform the Air Force to safeguard military personnel, civilians, and the nation’s leadership?

As the government grapples with the challenges facing the Air Force, many are calling for urgent reforms and investments in the military’s aerial capabilities. Will Mnangagwa’s administration prioritize the modernization of the Air Force, or will the country’s military aviation capabilities continue to decline? The fate of Zimbabwe’s Air Force hangs in the balance.

source-BusinessDaily

Tags: Air ForceAirForceMil Mi-38 VIP helicopterNewsHawks mediaPresident Emmerson MnangagwaRussian President Vladimir Putin

Related Posts

Open Letter Slams Judicial Service Commission Interviews

Open Letter Slams Judicial Service Commission Interviews

by Nyathi
June 4, 2025
0

Prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has penned an open letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), criticizing the...

Zimbabweans Fleeing Xenophobic Attacks Face New Hardship- Arrest and Deportation

Zimbabweans Fleeing Xenophobic Attacks Face New Hardship- Arrest and Deportation

by Nyathi
June 4, 2025
0

  In a heart-wrenching turn of events, over 100 Zimbabweans seeking shelter after xenophobic attacks in Addo, South Africa, were...

Fuel for Thought- A $4.2 Million Question

Fuel for Thought- A $4.2 Million Question

by Nyathi
June 4, 2025
0

The Zimbabwean government's $4.2 million payment to Betterbrands Petroleum, owned by Zanu PF legislator Scott Sakupwanya, has sparked a heated...

First Lady Fiasco -Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Flair Summit Invitation Sparks Outrage

First Lady Fiasco -Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Flair Summit Invitation Sparks Outrage

by Nyathi
June 2, 2025
0

The First Ladies African Impact & Resilience (Flair) Summit is facing a crisis after Zimbabwean diaspora communities in the UK...

Former ZBC Employee Waits 10 Years for Pension

Former ZBC Employee Waits 10 Years for Pension

by Nyathi
May 30, 2025
0

A former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) employee, who was retrenched in 2015, is still awaiting his pension payout. Despite numerous...

11-Year-Old Boy Takes His Own Life in Filabusi

11-Year-Old Boy Takes His Own Life in Filabusi

by Nyathi
May 30, 2025
0

A heartbreaking incident has shaken the community of Filabusi, Matabeleland South, after an 11-year-old boy, Junior Moyo, took his own...

Please login to join discussion

Trending News Today

  • Zimbabweans Fleeing Xenophobic Attacks Face New Hardship- Arrest and Deportation

    Zimbabweans Fleeing Xenophobic Attacks Face New Hardship- Arrest and Deportation

    73 shares
    Share 29 Tweet 18
  • Man Murdered and Buried in Shallow Grave in Matabeleland North

    62 shares
    Share 25 Tweet 16
  • Councillor Caught Red-Handed: Nobody Makoni’s 40-Month Vacation To Jail

    55 shares
    Share 22 Tweet 14
  • Veteran Journalist Arrested in Gutu

    47 shares
    Share 19 Tweet 12
  • Open Letter Slams Judicial Service Commission Interviews

    43 shares
    Share 17 Tweet 11
  • Serial South African Killer Escapes To Zimbabwe

    97 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 24
  • Fuel for Thought- A $4.2 Million Question

    37 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 9
  • COVID-19 Variant Alert: WHO Urges Global Vigilance

    95 shares
    Share 38 Tweet 24
  • Zimbabwe Suspends Poultry Imports from Brazil Over Avian Influenza Outbreak

    29 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 7
  • Car Con Artist Caught- Evans Nzara’s Wild Ride

    69 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 17

Popular This Week

  • Fatal Dog Attack Exposes Mike Mupinga’s Troubling Past

    Fatal Dog Attack Exposes Mike Mupinga’s Troubling Past

    250 shares
    Share 100 Tweet 63
  • Daughter and Son-in-Law Swindle Father Out of $100k

    153 shares
    Share 61 Tweet 38
  • How to Legally Avoid Paying the US$92 ZBC Radio Licence Fee in Zimbabwe

    588 shares
    Share 235 Tweet 147
  • Bulawayo Police Bust Vuzu Party, Arrest 13 Youths

    314 shares
    Share 126 Tweet 79
  • NYOKAYEMABHUNU’S COURT DRAMA- THE PLOT THICKENS

    117 shares
    Share 47 Tweet 29
  • Former ZBC Employee Waits 10 Years for Pension

    114 shares
    Share 46 Tweet 29
  • The Turbulent Life of President Mnangagwa: A Story of Helicopters, Close Calls, and Air Force Angst

    114 shares
    Share 46 Tweet 29
  •  Five Suspects Caught with Ivory and Pangolin Scales in Victoria Falls

    108 shares
    Share 43 Tweet 27
  • 11-Year-Old Boy Takes His Own Life in Filabusi

    106 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 27
  • Drunk, Drama, and a Dash of Fire: The Trevor Dongo Flat Fiasco

    104 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 26

Popular This Month

  • How to Legally Avoid Paying the US$92 ZBC Radio Licence Fee in Zimbabwe

    How to Legally Avoid Paying the US$92 ZBC Radio Licence Fee in Zimbabwe

    588 shares
    Share 235 Tweet 147
  • Bulawayo Police Bust Vuzu Party, Arrest 13 Youths

    314 shares
    Share 126 Tweet 79
  • Unhealed Wounds-Remembering the 21 Mothers of Emkhonyeni Who Were Burnt Alive

    313 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
  • Tragic Bus Accident in Gweru Claims Six Lives

    290 shares
    Share 116 Tweet 73
  • Apostle Eunor Guti Declines Wicknell Chivayo’s Lavish Gift

    274 shares
    Share 110 Tweet 69
  • Fatal Dog Attack Exposes Mike Mupinga’s Troubling Past

    250 shares
    Share 100 Tweet 63
  • Loophole or Legal Gymnastics? Zimbabwean Schools Find Ways Around Fee Payment Rule

    245 shares
    Share 98 Tweet 61
  • New ‘ lobola’ Fees for Foreigners Seeking Medical Care in Gauteng

    237 shares
    Share 95 Tweet 59
  • The Despicable Scam at Zimbabwe’s Hospitals; Its Business Nothing Personal.

    236 shares
    Share 94 Tweet 59
  • Dead Body Goes Missing : Nurse Arrested

    223 shares
    Share 89 Tweet 56

Most Read Stories

  • “Zimbabwe Is Discrediting SADC”

    ZANU PF Accused Of Bribing SADC Elders To Retain From Losing Power

    5239 shares
    Share 2096 Tweet 1310
  • Madzibaba gets Toyota Aqua after explaining new currency ZiG to church

    4533 shares
    Share 1813 Tweet 1133
  • Breaking News: Zimbabwe launches New Currency (Zig)

    4278 shares
    Share 1711 Tweet 1070
  • Guide : How to access 2023 Zimsec Ordinary O Level results online

    3972 shares
    Share 1589 Tweet 993
  • Uganda Police Officer Shoots Wife Dead After Mocking Him Over Man-U Loss

    3893 shares
    Share 1557 Tweet 973
  • Floods hit Gweru

    3593 shares
    Share 1437 Tweet 898
  • Mashura pa Gokwe musi wa 12.02.24

    3544 shares
    Share 1418 Tweet 886
  • Secret message for ED after his inauguration

    3481 shares
    Share 1392 Tweet 870
  • Heatwave Warning:Expect Extremely hot temp ranging from 36° to 41° until 12 March

    3393 shares
    Share 1357 Tweet 848
  • Here is the reckless Kombi Driver!!!!!!!!!!! See pics here

    3218 shares
    Share 1287 Tweet 805

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Home

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News