By Aldridge Dzvene
HARARE – Zimbabwe laid to rest national hero Air Commodore (Rtd) Simon Brian Bere at the National Heroes’ Acre, with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency, Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, urging citizens to uphold unity, patriotism and hard work in driving national development.
Air Commodore Bere, who passed on April 24, 2026, was accorded a State-assisted burial in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation as a liberation war cadre, senior military officer and civil servant.
Addressing mourners, His Excellency President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa described the late national hero as a disciplined and loyal patriot who dedicated his life to the liberation and development of Zimbabwe, exhibiting unwavering commitment without seeking personal glory.
The President highlighted that Bere joined the liberation struggle in 1978, crossing into Mozambique to train under the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), at a time when many young Zimbabweans made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of independence.
During the war, the late Air Commodore served as a political commissar, playing a critical role in mobilising and conscientising the masses, reinforcing the importance of ideology and national consciousness in the liberation struggle.
Following independence, he joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe in 1981, rising through the ranks to retire as Air Commodore in 2024. His military career saw him specialise in explosive ordnance disposal and contribute to regional missions, including deployments in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Beyond his military service, Air Commodore Bere also contributed to government, serving in the Ministry of War Veterans Affairs, where he was appointed Director in 2020 and played a key role in advancing welfare programmes for liberation war veterans.
His Excellency President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa used the occasion to call on Zimbabweans to safeguard the gains of independence and actively contribute towards the attainment of Vision 2030, emphasising that patriotism must now be demonstrated through increased productivity and innovation.
The President challenged the youth to take a leading role in national development, identifying sectors such as the digital economy, mining, tourism and manufacturing as key frontiers of the country’s modern struggle, while also urging them to embrace emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and robotics.
He further called for unity, peace and collective responsibility, stressing that every Zimbabwean has a duty to build and modernise the country in line with national aspirations.
Air Commodore (Rtd) Simon Brian Bere was buried among other distinguished sons and daughters of the soil, with the nation honouring his legacy of patriotism, discipline and dedicated service.
