Shumbayaonda promoted to Air Vice-Marshal

Air Commodore Shebba Brighton Shumbayaonda to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa conferred Air Vice-Marshal Shumbayaonda with his new rank in Harare yesterday.
Air Vice Marshal Shumbayaonda was born on February 2, 1959 and joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe as Air Sub Lieutenant on April 1, 1980.
He rose through the ranks after advancing his education.
In 1983 he attended a Pilot Training course in Romania and underwent a Flying Instructors course in Pakistan four years later.
Air Vice-Marshal Shumbayaonda attended a Junior Staff course at Manyame, an Air Command and Staff Course in the United States and an Air Force Command course in China.
Minister Mnangagwa said Air Vice-Marshal Shumbayaonda deserved the promotion due to his commitment and loyalty to Zimbabwe.
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate Commodore now Air Vice-Marshal for the prestigious promotion he has received.
“For you to be promoted to this position means that the President was satisfied by the distinguished merits you have, commitment and loyalty to Zimbabwe,” he said.
He has risen through the ranks from Air Lieutenant to Flight Lieutenant in 1985, Squadron Leader in 1994, Wing Commander in 1996, Group Captain in 1998 and Air Commodore in 2004, the position he held until his recent promotion.
Air Vice-Marshal Shumbayaonda said he felt honoured and humbled to be promoted.
“I feel great and humbled to be promoted to this post, it came as a surprise.
“There are quite a number of others with the same traits, so to be selected among those means there were quite a lot of considerations,” he said.