By Captain T Chikomo(Student Journalist,London School of Journalism) BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN ZINGONI alias TICHATONGA BROOKER CHIWAWA ( 1954-2014 ) 1] EARLY LIFE Brig-Gen Zingoni was born on 27August 1954 at Misingarambwi village in Masvingo under Chief Mapanzure.He did his primary education at Musingarambwi Primary and proceeded to Chikayo Secondary where he attained a Juniour Certificate in 1970.Like most disadvantaged black Zimbabweans,the young Zingoni left school due to financial constraints.Between 1972 and 1973 he endured the hardships of rural life under colonial rule until he decided in 1973 to go to Bulawayo in search of employment with the hope of raising funds to finance his further education,This was not to be as Cde Zingoni would only do his Ordinary and Advanced Level studies through correspondence after Independence. While in Bulawayo,Cde Zingoni was introduced to nationalist politics and took part in the anti-Pearce Commission demonstrations that sought to install a puppet government in the then Rhodesia.In 1975,he secured employment with the Ministry of Health as a general hand and eventually became a health orderly clerk at Masvingo Provincial Medical Health Office.This was a defining moment for him as he came face to face with the oppression ,brutality and racial segregation of the colonial Rhodesian regime.It was during this stint in Masvingo that he was assigned to Chiredzi District as part of a Disease Control Team tasked with controlling an outbreak of cholera.He took advantage of this deployment to abscond to join the liberation struggle waged from Mozambique. 2]PRE-INDEPENDENCE AND POLITICAL LIFE Together with two friends ,Cde Zingoni crossed border into Mozambique through Chikwalakwala,(now Sango Border Post) in the the Gaza Province.The year was 1976.Theyvwere received by FRELIMO soldiers and later proceed to Machipanda where they joined trained Zimbabwean cadres before being transferred to Doroi Refugee Camp.Given his medical background ,Cde Zingoni was sent to attend medical lessons at Doroi Hospital and was later assigned to work at the hospital.During the same year,Cde Eingoni went for military training at Chimoio under the instruction of Cde Augustine Chocha Chihuri,now the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.In an interview ,Cde Chihuri said the class of cadres whom he trained,including the late Brig Gen Zingoni,was a rare breed of dedicated freedom fighters who were very enthusiastic and eager to fre their country.Zanla deployed best trained fighters well-equipped to survive hardships which came with the liberation struggle back home. On completion of the military training ,the late Brig-Gen was sent for a six months training programme at the Multi-national Medical Institute in Tanzania.Upon his return from Tanzania in 1978,Cde Zingoni was deployed at Tembwe Training Camp in Tete Province where he worked briefly before he was redeployed to Chaminuka Sector as a Section Medical Officer.Cde Zingoni was then promoted to the rank of Platoon Medical Officer at Nyahuni Detachment.In 1979,he was promoted to the rank of ZANLA General Staff and later appointed Sectoral Medical Officer of Takawira Setor until the ceasefire in December 1979.After the declaration of ceasefire ,Brig-Gen Zingoni went to Dendera Assembly Point. 3]POST-INDEPENDENCE LIFE On attainment of Independence in 1980,Cde Zingoni and other ex-combatants went to the Democratic Republic of Korea for further millitary training where he enrolled for the Infantry Commanders Course which he completed in 1981.On his return,he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as a private soldier and later promoted to Captain after attending and passing the Standardisation Training Course at the Zimbabwe Military Academy. The late Brig-Gen was one of the few cadres sent to Nigeria as the first Officer Contingent of the army which was to spearhead the transformation of a guerrilla army into a professional one.His group returned to Zimbabwe and assumed posts as young officers of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was through this initiative among others that helped a rapid transformation of the ZDF to become a professional army that it is today. Cde Zingoni served in command, training and staff appointments from the lower headquarters to the top-most in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. He also participated in both the Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) Campaigns. In Mozambique, his battalion was tasked with the protection of the life-lined that included road, rail and oil pipeline in and out of Mozambique to Zimbabwe. In the DRC,he was Commander Western Front before assuming the post of Director Operations at SADC Task Force Headquarters in Kinshasa where he served under Lt Gen Phillip Valerio Sibanda who was the Force Commander.On completion of the mission, Cde Zingoni organised the exit of the SADC Task Force out of DRC to their respective countries. In recognition of his long and illustrious career, the late Brig-Gen was awarded the following medals: **Liberation Medal **Independence Medal **Ten Years Service Medal **Long and Exemplary Service Medal **Mozambique Campaign Medal **Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign Medal **The Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award Cde Zingoni continued to pursue academic and professional studies and passed several military courses offered within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. By the time of his death, he was pursuing a Doctorate together with the Commander of the Defence Forces and other military cadres. Cde Zingoni is survived by his wife ,Wadzanai Virginia Zingoni (nee Mabeza ands three children: one girl, Fungai and two boys,Chido and Tapiwa. Fambai zvakanaka Mhofu Yemukono! Hamba Kuhle Qhawe lethu! Go Well Son of the Soil! Fambai Zvakanaka Mwana wevhu!
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 10:01:38 +0000
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