Air Zimbabwe's Chimanimani carries SA soldiers home from Kigali

An Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200, famously known as Chimanimani, recently completed a remarkable mission, flying under the call sign FSK150, to transport injured soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi back home from Kigali, Rwanda. These soldiers had been serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before being injured in ongoing military operations.

The flight, a unique charter operation leased to Mont Gabon Airlines, acted as a "Shuttle Ambulance Service" to transport the wounded soldiers to their respective countries. The aircraft, which departed from Kigali, made several stops to drop off the soldiers at their home countries, beginning with Tanzania.

From Kigali, Chimanimani first dropped off the Tanzanian soldiers, then proceeded to Malawi before finally heading to South Africa. Each stop was meticulously planned to ensure the safe and swift return of the injured troops to receive medical treatment at home.

The operation began with the soldiers' initial relocation from Goma, a region in the DRC. Due to the military tension in the area, Goma has become a no-fly zone for commercial aircraft, forcing the soldiers to be transferred to Kigali for the flight back.

The Boeing 767-200, with its capacity and medical facilities, was deemed the ideal aircraft for this mission. Despite being a charter out of Kinshasa, the flight proved to be an important humanitarian service for the injured soldiers of three nations, underlining the versatility and global responsibility of Air Zimbabwe.

"This is an operation of SADC, so any country that is willing to assist is welcome" - Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa speaks about an aircraft spotted at the Waterkloof Base suspected of carrying some wounded SANDF members. Fourteen soldiers died during clashes with M23… pic.twitter.com/8kkDMdli8p

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 25, 2025