Zimbabwe army spokesman dies
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Zimbabwe army spokesman dies

Colonel Overson Mugwisi

Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) director of public relations Colonel Overson Mugwisi has died.

In a statement, ZDF Director General for policy, public relations and international affairs, Brigadier-General Augustine Chipwere said Col Mugwisi died early yesterday morning.

“It is with deep sorrow that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces notifies the nation of the passing on of the Director ZDF public relations Colonel Overson Mugwisi in the early hours of today (yesterday), 31 July 2020. He passed on at 2 Referral Hospital Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks after a short illness,” said Brig-Gen Chipwere.

Mourners are gathered at Number 20 Britannia Road, Southerton, Harare.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Col Mugwisi’s death came at a time when the nation is in mourning following the death of another decorated fighter and national hero, Cde Perrance Shiri, who was Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister.

Cde Shiri, who headed the Air Force of Zimbabwe before joining civilian life two years ago, was buried at the National Heroes Acre yesterday.

Col Mugwisi was first appointed the official spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Army in 2009, when he was Lieutenant Colonel, taking over from Lieutenant Colonel Simon Tsatsi.

He then rose to become ZDF spokesperson.

Born in 1956 in Masvingo, Col Mugwisi attended Torwood Primary School, Drake and Amaveni secondary schools in Kwekwe, Midlands Province.

He then crossed into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle in September 1976.

In his military career dating back to Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Col Mugwisi held various senior posts among them Adjutant Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA), Officer Commanding Cadet Division ZMA, and Staff Officer responsible for Administration Plans at Army Headquarters.

He was also Staff Officer responsible for research at the Zimbabwe Staff College and Directing Staff Joint Command and Staff Courses at the Zimbabwe Staff College before he went into public relations of the army.

Over the years, Col Mugwisi attended most career courses offered by the army during the Junior Staff Course, the Company Group Commanders Course and the Command and Staff Course.

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