Tragic Head-on Collision Claims the Life of Brigadier General Vezha

Date:18 April 2024

ZimTimes Staff

In a heartbreaking turn of events, four experienced Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) personnel lost their lives in a traffic collision on the Harare-Bulawayo highway.

Brigadier General Augustine Chipwere, ZDF’s Director of Poly, Public Relations, and International Affairs, verified the occurrence of the accident.

Brigadier General Chipwere, in a statement reported by certain media outlets, mentioned that the accident took place approximately 2 kilometers away from Battlefields in Mashonaland West Province.

It is with a heavy heart that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces announces the death of a general officer, two field officers and a non-commissioned member in a fatal road accident which occurred on April 16, 2024.

Brigadier General Shadreck Vezha, Major Thabani Ncube, Major Mqondisi Gumbo and Sergeant Chakabaiwa were involved in a road traffic accident at the 180km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Road about 2km from Battlefields.

According to preliminary investigations, it was established that Brigadier General Vezha attempted to overtake an unidentified vehicle and encroached into the oncoming vehicle lane resulting in a head-on collision with the Mazda CX-5 which was travelling towards Kwekwe.

Some passengers who were aboard both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently admitted at Gweru and Kwekwe General Hospitals.

Investigations surrounding the accident are underway and more information will be availed in due course. The statement concluded.

Back in May 2014, while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel, Shadreck Vezha was awarded a UN Medal for his involvement in the United Nations Syria Mission.

In July 2014, he was part of a group of nine lieutenant colonels elevated to the rank of colonel by then-President Robert Mugabe

On February 16, 2019, Vhezha was one of seven ZNA members elevated from the position of Colonel to Brigadier-General.