This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
On Thursday morning, Zimbabwe lost a top military official, Lieutenant-General Edzai Absalom Chakanyuka Chimonyo, who died after a long battle with cancer.
According to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's spokesperson, George Charamba, General Chimonyo passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Charamba announced the news on Twitter, saying, 'Devastated to announce the passing on of General Chimonyo early this morning after a long fight against cancer, go well freedom fighter, commander and ambassador.'
General Chimonyo was a key figure in Zimbabwe's military history, serving as the country's ambassador to Tanzania until the 2017 coup that ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe.
He was promoted to replace General Philip Valerio Sibanda, who became Defence Forces commander after General Constantino Chiwenga's departure to become vice president.
However, General Chimonyo's legacy is marred by his involvement in the Gukurahundi military campaign in the 1980s, which targeted the Ndebele minority and left over 20,000 people dead.
Former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo described General Chimonyo as one of the most brutal commanders during the Gukurahundi campaign, led by a North Korean-trained army unit.
