BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Simba Chikore, The lucky Mugabe Son in law

Who, How and when??? a lot of questions are currently flying of the new Mugabe son in law, from just a regular pilot to being the oldest son (in law) of the oldest and most powerful president in the World.

The Lucky One!! simba greets His Father (in law) during the ceremony

Not much is known about Mr Simba Chikore, who last Saturday walked down the aisle with President Mugabe’s and Amai Grace Mugabe’s only daughter, Bona.

Efforts to unmask the “brave” international pilot beyond the surface profile drew blanks for the greater part of last week, with the groom’s father, Pastor Chikore, elder brother Derrick, younger brother and also best man at the wedding, Ray, all being evasive.

However, titbits from speeches and side interviews with some of the guests at the bachelor party held at the Rainbow Towers gave some insight into the man who stole Bona’s heart.

It turns out he grew up in Harare’s Kambuzuma suburb, went to Marlborough Primary School, St John’s High School and St Luis University in the United States. But not much was thrown around about the man who has become every bachelor’s envy.

That his parents are district pastors who have very close links with the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) Forward in Faith church leadership was also made obvious while most speakers close to the groom painted a picture of a focused and hard-working man.

Speaking at the unique bachelor party on Wednesday, Ray said Simba was fixated on becoming a pilot from a very young age.
“This man . . . the way I know him growing up, he is a tough man. In Form 5, he became the school’s headboy and he remained so for the rest of his Advanced Level education.

He was uncontested throughout his high school. What really got my attention about his personality is his level of focus. He was focused on being a pilot from about 13 years old. He insisted on a Pilot bag from Form 2 until he finished high school, putting pressure on my brother here (Derrick) because he worked at the airport.”

Ray also spoke about how he had been sceptical about Simba dating Bona, but was quick to add that, although he did not believe it was actually happening, he was happy that everything had worked out in the end.

Simba’s friend, who flew in from Sweden for the wedding, Mr David Reiser, attended St Luis University with the pilot. Mr Reiser said he would not have made the journey to Zimbabwe if Simba was not who he is.

“I knew him from college, spending a great deal of time at the library to criss-crossing the US skies, returning to Zimbabwe and then an international airline. I am happy to be associated with someone as dedicated as Simba — he has a never-say-die attitude,” said Mr Reiser.

A former workmate, Captain Khanyisa Moyo, said Simba joined Air Zimbabwe a year after him “around 2004 / 5”. Captain Moyo explained how they had become a team, flying the First Family.

“We did a few trips together flying the President and the First Family, little did we know that he was on a mission,” said Captain Moyo.

He added: “I remember your brother saying, ‘Mukoma, taurai naSimba, taurai naSimba’. But, hey man, you did it.”
A friend and former colleague at Air Zimbabwe, Captain Tawanda Chitsike, who now works in Singapore, talked of his friend’s bravery.

“Simba would visit me in Singapore and then venture into other territories as well, like this other time he went to Malaysia. He met someone on the bus and befriended them and later on when his new friend got into trouble with some thugs, he stood up for him.”