Preparations complete for national hero Bere’s burial tomorrow

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will tomorrow preside over the burial of national hero Air Commodore (Retired) Simon Bere at the National Heroes Acre.

Air Commodore Bere died on April 24 while receiving medical treatment in Zambia.

He was 66.

Director of procurement in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Colonel (Retired) Onward Tokoda yesterday confirmed that everything was in place for tomorrow’s solemn ceremony.

The body of the national hero was yesterday flown to his rural home in Gudhure village, Hurungwe, Mashonaland West province, before the cortege proceeded to Plot 6, Ansidale Farm, near Karoi, where it lay in state.

“President Mnangagwa will on Monday preside over the burial of the late national hero, Air Commodore (Retired) Simon Bere. His body will lie in state at Ansidale Farm near Karoi after a procession from Hurungwe, the late national hero’s rural home,” Col Tokoda said.

Speakers who attended the send-off ceremony in Gudhure village described him as a dedicated cadre who gave his life to the country and community.

“As a province, we are grateful to President Mnangagwa and his leadership for according our son national hero status,” Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said.

“The late Air Commodore Bere is someone who joined the liberation struggle without material or financial incentives but driven by the conviction to end colonial rule and free Zimbabwe.”

The Government, she said, had ensured that land for war veterans was secure and could not be expropriated upon death.

She assured the family that everything that Air Commodore worked for was secure.

His uncle Mr Sylvester Bere said the late Air Commodore had made the family, Hurungwe community and nation proud.

His daughter Tendai said she had learnt a lot from her father about the need to love one’s country.

ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka hailed President Mnangagwa for according Cde Bere national hero status.

“I worked with him when I was Member of Parliament for Hurungwe West and he was a pillar of wisdom and support, whom I would always consult.”

Retired Air Commodore Bere’s body will be airlifted to Charles Gumbo Barracks today, where it will lie in state ahead of burial.

Born on September 19, 1959 in Hurungwe, Air Commodore (Retd) Bere pursued his early education at Chiroti and Matau primary schools before attending Ascot for his secondary education.

Driven by the call to liberate his country, he joined the armed struggle.

In 1978, he crossed the border into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle as a ZANLA combatant.

He was immediately selected to undergo training at Samacuesa Base.

After completing his training, he served in the Education Department at the rear, holding the position of Detachment Political Commissar.

He joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) in 1981 as an aircraftsman and completed basic military training at Field Air Force Base (now Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo Air Force Base).

He was commissioned as an officer in 1993.

Thereafter, he acquired specialist skills in munitions and explosives after completing an Explosive Ordnance Disposal course.

The AFZ would later deploy his expertise to operations in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2016, he was seconded to the Ministry of War Veterans as Deputy Director of War Veterans Affairs, before he was elevated to Director in 2020.

Cde Bere died in Zambia where he was receiving treatment for pain in his legs.

He was amputated twice before succumbing to the condition on April 24.

He is survived by his wife Regina and three children.