Elson Moyo
Encyclopedia
Air Vice-Marshal
Elson Moyo was a deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
and one of the main figures in the 2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt
.
Elson Moyo is the younger brother of July Moyo, the former government minister who was dismissed by Robert Mugabe
. Elson Moyo achieved some notoriety after he was sued for allegedly committing adultery with the wife of a policeman.
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. Moyo was promoted from Air Commodore
to Air Vice-Marshal
in November 2003. In early 2007, he held the post of Chief of Staff - Operations. Unlike the Air Force Commander, Perence 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.
In March 2007, it was reported that Moyo had become critically ill as a result of suspected poisoning. He later recovered.
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. It was later noted that Moyo was under 24 hour surveillance and had been removed from his public roles.
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Elson Moyo was a deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe
The Air Force of Zimbabwe is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998–2001....
and one of the main figures in the 2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt
2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt
The Zimbabwean government foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on June 2 or June 15, 2007...
.
Elson Moyo is the younger brother of July Moyo, the former government minister who was dismissed by Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. Elson Moyo achieved some notoriety after he was sued for allegedly committing adultery with the wife of a policeman.
After Zimbabwe gained independence, Moyo was a flying instructor at Thornhill Airbase in Gweru
Gweru
Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at . It has a population of about 146,073 , making it the third largest city in the nation. Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Gweru was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange...
. During this time he trained many pilots who went on to become senior officers in the AFZ. Moyo was promoted from Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
to Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
in November 2003. In early 2007, he held the post of Chief of Staff - Operations. Unlike the Air Force Commander, Perence Shiri
Perence Shiri
Air Marshal Perence Shiri is the current commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and a member of the Joint Operations Command which exerts day-by-day control over Zimbabwe's government.Perence Shiri is a cousin of President Robert Mugabe...
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.
In March 2007, it was reported that Moyo had become critically ill as a result of suspected poisoning. He later recovered.
Moyo was arrested on 7 June 2007 along with Major General Engelbert Rugeje
Engelbert Rugeje
Major General Engelbert Rugeje is the Chief of Staff of the Zimbabwe National Army. He was born in Bikita, Charamba Village, he's an heir of the Charamba family who of the Duma clanand educated at Silveira Mission where he excelled before he joined the ZANLA guerrilla freedom fighters at the age of...
and around 400 other military personnel for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
administration. It was later noted that Moyo was under 24 hour surveillance and had been removed from his public roles.