adminTHE 3 Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier-General Eliah Bandama, who died on Thursday last week, has been described by many as a humble yet fearless and straightforward cadre. Born on December 1 1958 in Chipinge District, Brigadier-General Bandama breathed his last at West End Clinic in the capital last Thursday night after weeks of battling with high blood pressure and leukaemia.
He was laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre yesterday (Thursday).
The late Brigadier-General’s deputy at 3 Infantry Brigade, Colonel Lazarus Gutu, described him as an educator par excellence.
“He was a very endearing comrade and on the social side he had a very lovable character. He was approachable, fatherly and he was a brilliant communicator as well.
“The other thing about our departed leader is that he was an educator as well. During his military career he spent quite some considerable time serving as commandant in military academies hence his immeasurable experience as an educator.
“As a commander he was indeed fearless. Although I did not have the chance to be with him in a war situation, I could see the traits of bravery and fearlessness in him.
“He is also one person who wanted things done in a straightforward manner. He wanted things to be done perfectly. We are going to miss him much, especially in our Manicaland Joint Operations Committee (JOC) meetings. He is one person who paid attention to detail and personally I learnt quite a lot from him,” said Colonel Gutu.
Officer Commanding Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Moses Magandi, who had a personal relationship with the late Brigadier-General apart from their professional relations, said apart from being quick to give advice when things went wrong, he was also good at listening to others. It is really sad that he is no more. We worked well as provincial JOC members. He was already there when I came in 2012 and he was so welcoming to me.
“He was someone who was passionate that things go on well in this province. He was always forthcoming with ideas as much as he was good at listening to others. Our interaction went beyond JOC as we later became personal and family friends. In fact, I enjoyed a brotherly relationship with him and even our families were now interacting. His death is a big loss not only to his family and the province but the nation as a whole,” he said.
Brig-Gen Bandama, whose Chimurenga name was Spins Nhamoyesango, spent his early childhood in the remote parts of Chipinge district where he attained primary education at Maria Primary School before enrolling at Chikore Mission for his secondary education. Before finishing his Form Four studies at Chikore Mission in Chipinge, he left the then Rhodesia for Mozambique en route to Zambia and Tanzania in 1975 after being incarcerated in Chipinge and Mutare and later freed following some nasty clashes with racist school authorities. Upon arrival in Mozambique, Brigadier-General Bandama and his colleagues were arrested after they were suspected to be agents of the BSAP. While in incarceration there, they were transferred to Posto Machazi, where they met other Zimbabweans and they increased in numbers until they were 6 000.
They were later addressed by President Mugabe who was accompanied by one freedom fighter named Amos Tsana and that is when they started a journey that took Cde Spins to several military training camps. In 1977 at Chomupani camp, he sustained injuries on his left knee and thighs after receiving multiple gunshots delivered by helicopter gunships before he was chosen among other comrades to undergo further military training in China. During ceasefire, Brigadier-General Bandama was among the first group selected to form the Zimbabwe National Army. In 2005, he was appointed commandant of the Zimbabwe Military Academy. He remained there until 2008 when he was posted to army HQ (GS Branch) where he was Colonel Staff General Branch.
In 2010 he was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed commander 4 Infantry Brigade. He was then moved to HQ 3 Infantry Brigade as commander.
Online Reporter