ZDF’s iron hand in velvet gloves
LAST week, Zimbabwe honoured men and women who dedicated their lives to defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including ensuring world peace through various onerous international assignments.
This year, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) marked 40 years — a Ruby Jubilee — of safeguarding and protecting the country’s hard-won independence.
As it has been evolving, one of its milestones over the past four decades has been the progressive and deliberate elevation of women to previously male-dominated roles.
This has naturally created opportunities for capable women such as 28-year-old Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Tildah Angoni and Master Sergeant (MSgt) Tendai Nashe (32) from the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ).
Essentially, these women represent the defence force’s iron hand in a velvet glove.
For them, it is not about breaking the glass ceiling, but about inspiring both men and women.
A distinguished combat helicopter pilot, Flt Lt Angoni was inspired to take to the skies after attending an airshow hosted by theAFZ at Charles Prince Airport some years ago.
MSgt Nashe, who is a paratrooper instructor, says she was drawn to skydiving when she was exposed to the adrenaline-pumping activity in a military camp where she grew up.
With such experiences, both ladies were determined to write their own success stories.
With a total of 305 flying hours, Flt Lt Angoni has flown aircraft which includes an SF260 during her first pilot training course and an Aloutte 3 helicopter. She did a Primary Trainer 6, which is a pilot training level, at the Airforce Aviation University in China.
“A combat pilot is a war person. The aircraft I fly has war configurations. Besides, we don’t just do basic flying training, but we also do the combat part,” she said in an interview.
“That marks the difference between civilian and combat helicopter flying in the sense that our training is in conjunction with war tactics, while the civilian training may be as a hobby or for transportation.”
To her credit, MSgt Nashe has had 420 jumps since 2008.
These include five into water bodies and three performed at night.
The jumps need special skill as one can land far from the shore and face difficulties swimming to safety.
At night, a paratrooper risks missing the landing target and, in most cases, this might result in serious injury or death.
From basic military training, MSgt Nashe graduated to being an “aircrafts” woman before joining the Parachute Training School.
She trains airborne forces within the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and AFZ parachute jumping instructors.
“We carry out combat training of Zimbabwe National Army to the maximum standards,” she said.
“We carry out additional tasks like ‘entertainment’ jumps during national events like Zimbabwe International Trade Fair or soccer matches. We also provide parachute search and rescue missions.”
MSgt Nashe’s day begins at 3am and at times ends at midnight.
She has managed to advance her career in China, attending training courses in 2016 and 2019.
“At times you have to finish work around 10pm because we do jumps at night or we carry out night paratroops with the students,” she said.
“Naturally, women do not have the physique as that of men, so the task is stressing. I am a mother and this means there is not much time to be with my two boys — Tavonga and Alex.
“At times when I finish work I am not able to talk to them because I will be exhausted. I feel like I have lost them because it seems my children really want to be with their father.”
However, MSgt Nashe says she feels lucky for having an understanding husband, who is also a Master Sergeant in the military.
For Flt Lt Angoni, her career demands that she must continuously perfect her flying skills.
“When you have a determination of being a pilot, you can do it, whether male or female. The field is male-dominated, but in the military, we are taught team work.
“I need to fly more to discover techniques and become experienced.
“My job means a lot to me in the sense that being a combat pilot means commitment to serve the nation.
“When there are emergencies like floods or civil unrests, we are involved and I know I have to do something to help people.”