A Zimbabwean-born teenager based in Ethiopia has made history by becoming the youngest pilot in the country after he was awarded a commercial pilot licence at the age of 19.
Simbarashe Machigere was awarded the licence on May 5, 2019, by the East African Aviation School based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after flying solo at 29 hours of training.
Speaking to The Herald on Tuesday, Machigere said:
Training for a commercial pilot license was not an easy walk in the park. You needed to apply yourself intellectually, emotionally and physically. You really required undivided attention.
But I praise the Lord and also thank him for making me a Zimbabwean.
Being the youngest trainee in the East African Aviation School in Ethiopia, I have made history by flying solo at 29 hours of training. I couldn’t believe it but I made.
The youngster revealed that he intends to return home from the East African country and join a viable airline.
Simbarashe was born on July 3, 1999, in Bindura to Mr Saston Mapfaka Machigere, who is Minister-Counsellor at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Addis Ababa.
He did his primary education at Shashi Primary School and proceeded to do his High School at Greek Community School in Ethiopia.