Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Army has announced the death of a retired senior officer, Colonel Patron Khutshwekhaya, with Army Commander Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
In a statement, Director Army Public Relations Colonel Hlengiwe Dube said the ZNA leadership was mourning the passing of the liberation war stalwart, who died on May 1, 2026, at United Bulawayo Hospitals at the age of 75.
“The Commander Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, is saddened to announce the untimely death of Colonel (Retired) Patron Khutshwekhaya,” said Col Dube in a statement.
Col (Rtd) Khutshwekhaya, whose Chimurenga name was “Dalasi Ndlela”, was born on November 25, 1951, in Mahlathini Village in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North Province.
He attended Mzilikazi Secondary School before leaving the country in 1976 to join the liberation struggle as a Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) cadre.
He crossed into Zambia through Botswana and was initially stationed at Nampundwe and New Camp before moving to Mwembeshi.
“He underwent initial military training in Tanzania under the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) before proceeding to Morogoro and later to the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where he specialised in weapons,” said Colonel Dube.
Upon returning to Zambia in 1977, he was deployed to the Zambezi escarpment, operating in strategic areas including Kariba, Chirundu and Kanyemba during the liberation war.
Following independence in 1980, Colonel Khutshwekhaya was attested into the ZNA as a private soldier and later commissioned as an officer after completing a Standardisation Course at Inkomo Barracks. Colonel Dube described the deceased as a committed cadre who served the country with distinction.
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