Staff Reporter
Major General (Retd) Sikhulile Simpson Nyathi has died. He passed on last Sunday morning at the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 2 Referral Hospital in Harare.
According to a statement released today by the ZNA Director Army Public relations, Colonel Alphios Makotore, Nyathi was 61 at the time of his death.
“The late Major General (Retd) Nyathi was born on 12 September 1960 in Mapate Village in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province. He did his primary education at Mapate Primary School from 1966 to 1972. He then proceeded for his secondary education at Manama Secondary School from 1973 to 1976 in Gwanda District,” said Col Makotore.
The late Nyathi was also a liberation war veteran.
“He joined the liberation struggle under the Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) after crossing the border into Zambia via Botswana on 27 January 1977. The late freedom fighter received military training at Chakwenga Guerrilla Training Camp One (CGTC1) in Zambia that same year. He later on proceeded to the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) for further military training in January 1978,” read part of the statement.
After independence, the late Major General Nyathi was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army on 1 June 1981. He rose through the ranks to Major General in 2020 and retired at the same rank, the same year.
Mourners are gathered at Number 6, 21st Avenue, Mabelreign in Harare. Colonel Makotore highlighted that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
