Herald Reporter
Air Force of Zimbabwe Wing Commander Juliana Choto has died.
She was 58.Wing Comm Choto died on Saturday at West End Hospital after a short illness.
Addressing mourners at a funeral parade held at Manyame Airbase yesterday, Air Commodore Selebale Masera, said the death of Wing Comm Choto was a loss to the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the nation as a whole.
“It was indeed shocking and disheartening to learn that such a hard working, loyal and experienced officer could be taken away from our midst when her services were still critically required in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the ZDF and the nation as a whole,” he said.
“Wing Comm Choto was a dedicated, reliable and courageous senior officer who took service before self. She was a rare kind of an officer who had the enviable gift of the ability to mix freely at all levels both in her social and business life.”
Air Commodore Masera said Wing Comm Choto contributed during the Mozambique campaign as she was among the first few black nurses in the Air Force of Zimbabwe who managed to provide medical cover to the fighting forces both at the front and at the rear.
“Her efforts together, with her colleagues ensured that the Renamo bandits who had become a menace with their evil intention of strangling Zimbabwe’s lifeline to the port of Beira in Mozambique were soundly repulsed by the ZDF applying the Air Force of Zimbabwe air power,” he said.
“Without these sterling efforts by the late wing commander and colleagues, Zimbabwe’s hard won independence would have been futile.”
He said Wing Comm Choto was also instrumental during the operation Sovereign Legitimacy in the DRC as her leadership and management skills ensured that the young nurses under her command were able to remain resolute in providing medical services to fighting forces.
Wing Commander Choto will be buried today in Ascot, Gweru.