GWERU – The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is in mourning following the death of Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza, a promising young pilot who died on Thursday when his trainer aircraft crashed near Gweru.
ZDF Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda expressed his deep sorrow upon receiving news of the tragic incident.
The ZDF confirmed that Air Lieutenant Tambudza was flying solo in a Karakorum-8 (K-8) aircraft when the accident occurred near Guinea Fowl, approximately 20km southeast of Gweru. The aircraft sustained extensive damage upon impact with the ground.
Air Lieutenant Tambudza was undergoing a jet flying conversion course at Number 2 Squadron, based at Josiah Tungamirai Air Force base in Gweru. According to the ZDF, he was in the final stages of his training on the K-8 jet. The ZDF statement described Tambudza as a “young pilot who had demonstrated immense potential.” His age was not disclosed.
The Karakorum-8 is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft, jointly designed by China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. It first took to the skies in 1990. As of last year, Zimbabwe’s Air Force had a fleet of ten K-8 aircraft.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. The ZDF has not released further details at this time.
