Online Reporter
Harare Bureau
National hero Air Commodore (Retired) Simon Brian Bere will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre.
President Mnangagwa will preside over the proceedings.
The body was airlifted yesterday from his rural home in Gudhure Village, near Zvimonja Primary School in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West province, to Charles Gumbo Barracks, where it lay in state ahead of today’s burial.
Air Commodore (Retd) Bere died on April 24 in Zambia, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
He was 67.
Speaking at Charles Gumbo Barracks yesterday, acting Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Colonel (Retd) Onward Tokoda said Mashonaland West was allowed to bid farewell to the national hero.
Col Tokoda confirmed that burial is scheduled for today.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr ED Mnangagwa, is going to preside over the ceremony,” he said.
“The gates shall open at 0600 hours, as usual, and transport will be made available. We therefore invite all the citizens of this country to join His Excellency, the President, in bidding farewell to the late national hero.”
Earlier in the day, the Hurungwe community gathered at the Tavoyi Primary School grounds, where the helicopter was waiting.
Cries of “Vaenda Mhazi” could be heard as the helicopter prepared for take-off.
Mashonaland West provincial secretary Mr Josphat Jaji said the family and the Hurungwe community had been given a chance to mourn and give a befitting send-off to the war veteran and air service man.
“We received the body at Gudhure Village in Zvimonja, Hurungwe, where it spent more than two hours before it was airlifted to Ansdale Farm overnight,” said Mr Jaji.
At least nine buses have been provided to ferry mourners to the National Heroes Acre.
The community, including Hurungwe West legislator Cde Chinjai Kambuzuma, thanked President Mnangagwa for living up to the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“We thank our President for giving national hero status to Cde Bere,” said Cde Kambuzuma.
“We also thank the Government for providing buses and we want everyone to go to the (National) Heroes Acre to give him a befitting send off.”
War veteran, Cde Elizabeth Nzombe, described the national hero as a humble man.
“He is someone who carried himself in a humble way. Most people never knew he was a senior person in the army because of the way he carried himself,” she said.
Born on September 19, 1959, in Hurungwe, Air Commodore (Retd) Bere pursued his early education at Chiroti and Matau primary schools before attending Ascot Secondary School in Gweru for his secondary education. Driven by the call to liberate his country, he joined the armed struggle.
He was among the young cadres who made the sacrifice to join the liberation struggle.
At the age of 19, in 1978, he crossed the border into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle as a ZANLA combatant.
He was immediately selected to undergo training at Samacuesa Base.
After completing training, he served in the Education Department at the rear, holding the position of detachment Political Commissar.
Air Commodore Bere was among the founding members of the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) at independence.
He joined the AFZ in 1981 as an aircraftman and completed basic military training at Field Air Force Base, now Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo Air Force Base.
He was commissioned as an officer in 1993. Thereafter, Air Commodore Bere acquired specialist skills in munitions and explosives after completing an Explosive Ordnance Disposal course.
Armed with these skills, the AFZ deployed his expertise in operations in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Air Commodore Bere completed all staff and command courses commensurate with his rank and held various command and staff appointments throughout his career in the AFZ.
In 2016, he was seconded to the Ministry of War Veterans as deputy director of War Veterans Affairs before being elevated to director in 2020.
In recognition of his distinguished service, he was awarded five medals.
Throughout his military career, Air Commodore Bere played a pivotal role in shaping the professionalism and operational strength of the AFZ.
He became known for his discipline, patriotism and unwavering loyalty to the nation, qualities that earned him respect within the military and beyond.
He is survived by wife, Regina and three children.
