Elson Moyo

Moyo was born in Mberengwa. In 1977, when he was a student at Manama Secondary School, Moyo together with his cousin SB Moyo left school and joined the liberation struggle via Botswana. [1]

Moyo was one of the first blacks to receive full training as a pilot together with retired Air Marshal Shebba Shumbayaonda. However, the two had to be trained outside the country because the Rhodesian government worked to block black Africans from becoming pilots.[2]

After Zimbabwe gained independence, Moyo was a flying instructor at Thornhill Airbase in Gweru. During this time he trained many pilots who went on to become senior officers in the AFZ.[3] Moyo was promoted from air commodore to air vice-marshal in November 2003.[4] In early 2007, he held the post of Chief of Staff - Operations.[5] Unlike former Air Force Commander, Perrance Shiri and the other high-ranking AFZ officers, Moyo is able to fly an aircraft and as such he commanded a degree of personal loyalty from those senior officers whom he instructed during their flying training.[3]

Moyo is an accomplished pilot, who in 2011, had 1970[2] hours flying time in the following aircraft: Hunter, SF260M, SF260TP, Hawk, MIG 15, L29, MF1-17 and T-37.[2]

Following what were reported as clashes with Shiri,[6] in March 2007 Moyo had become critically ill as a result of suspected poisoning. He later recovered.[4]

Moyo was arrested on 7 June 2007 along with Major General Engelbert Rugeje and around 400 other military personnel for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Mugabe administration.[7] It was later noted that Moyo was under 24-hour surveillance and had been removed from his public roles.[8] In 2015, Moyo was still in military service and reported to be the Chief of Staff for Joint Operation and Plans.[9]

Elson Moyo achieved some notoriety after he was sued for allegedly committing adultery with the wife of a policeman.[7][10]