The Zimbabwean community is grieving the loss of <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Daniel_Chingoma/">Daniel Chingoma</a>, the renowned inventor behind the homemade ZIMCOPTER helicopter. Chingoma passed away on September 13, 2024, due to an undisclosed illness.
Alongside his innovative projects, Chingoma, also known for his musical talents, founded Taisek Engineering. His endeavours, notably the grounded ZIMCOPTER due to government restrictions during Robert Mugabe’s era, captured international attention.
Chingoma’s legacy extends beyond engineering; he ventured into politics, established the Zimbabwe Industrial and Technological Revolutionary Party (ZITER) in 2010 and even ran for president in 2018.
<img alt="Chingoma helicopter" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-280586" decoding="async" height="225" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chingoma-Helicopter-300x225.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chingoma-Helicopter-300x225.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chingoma-Helicopter-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chingoma-Helicopter-768x576.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chingoma-Helicopter.jpg 1040w" width="300"/>
The passing of Daniel Chingoma has sparked varied reactions. While some feel he departed with bitterness (because his invention was not allowed to take off), others believe he had the potential to succeed as an entrepreneur abroad.
Despite legal challenges, including a fraud conviction, Chingoma’s impact on Zimbabwe’s technological landscape will stand as a testament to his inventive spirit and contributions. Rest in peace.
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Daniel Chingoma, an inventor from Zimbabwe, who created the ZIMCOPTER helicopter, has passed away. He also had a talent for music and founded Taisek Engineering. Chingoma faced challenges in getting his invention off the ground due to government restrictions. He was also involved in politics and ran for president in 2018. Some people believe he could have succeeded as an entrepreneur abroad. Despite legal issues, Chingoma's impact on Zimbabwe's technology scene will always be remembered.

DEVELOPING STORY: Zimbabwe Mourns Loss Of Inventor Daniel Chingoma

Opposition Zimbabwe Industrial and Technological Revolution (ZITER) president Daniel Chingoma says his party is ready to challenge the ruling ZANU PF party in elections scheduled for 2023.
Chingoma, who is famous for assembling a helicopter that is yet to fly, said ZITER’s support base has been growing over the years and the party has already lined-up candidates for Parliament and council. He said:
<blockquote>
We want to contest; we want to give the ruling party a hard run. Competition is not for one person, it takes two or three people to have a competition. So they will not run on their own and say we have won.
Zimbabwe is a democratic country, it’s a multiparty democracy, and anyone who feels like contesting can contest.
So we are going to be participating but there is a hindrance, the required to pay US$20 000 for Presidential candidates.
We have national structures, we have provincial, district, and community structures, and we have cells and branches.
We have many supporters, those that I know that are in our books are about 20 000.
</blockquote>
Chingoma said unlike other parties that conduct campaign rallies, ZITER will communicate privately with prospective voters.
He expressed optimism about winning the 2023 presidential election if he is allowed to contest. He said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabweans want food, they want jobs, and they want industries to be resuscitated. They also want a democratic rule, development, and improved living conditions that is what we will do for them.
We see ourselves winning if we are given an opportunity to participate. We will definitely win. I say if we are given an opportunity because they have imposed US$20 000 which is a hindrance.
</blockquote>
Chingoma reportedly failed to file his nomination papers for the 2018 elections because his photos were taken while he was wearing a cap. | <a href="https://openparly.com/2023-elections-we-are-going-to-give-zanu-pf-a-hard-run-says-chingoma/">OpenParly</a>

Daniel Chingoma Eyes State House

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) gave TAISEK Engineering boss Daniel Chingoma an ultimatum to remove his helicopter from its grounds.
Chingoma took the flying machine to UZ after its removal from the Mbudzi Roundabout which is undergoing construction.
UZ warned Chingoma that if he failed to remove the helicopter from its campus, they were going to trash it.
Chingoma is now keeping the helicopter at his Chitungwiza home.
Speaking to DJ Ollah 7, during his After Drive Show on Star FM, Chingoma said:
<blockquote>
At the moment, I haven’t got any help. I am pleading with well-wishers to help me work towards standardising this machine.
When it was removed from Mbudzi Roundabout by the road construction company, we did not oppose it since it was for development purposes.
We spoke with university authorities to put our machine there since it’s a place of higher learning.
It was for the purpose of them helping us to improve the helicopter.
It’s unfortunate that we were given a negative answer.
Hanzi pisai, we don’t want it here. They didn’t explain, but just said we can’t help you.
I am surprised that a university turned down innovative ideas.
They even gave us a time frame, hanzi mukasachibvisa tikunochirasa.
We then hired a lorry to take it home. It weighs 1 200kgs, just like a Madza 323.
</blockquote>
Chingoma claimed that he developed a telephone in rural areas around 1978, which could be used to communicate up to a kilometre. | <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/air-chingoma-in-chitown-daniel-says-uz-bosses-ordered-him-to-remove-it/">H-Metro</a>

UZ Threatens To Destroy Daniel Chingoma's Helicopter

National Patriotic Front (NPF) MP Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo has chided the government for harassing local “inventors” instead of assisting them.
Blackman, who represents Kwekwe Central in the National Assembly, cited the case of two “inventors” Walter Magaya and Daniel Chingoma.
Matambanadzo, who, according to NewZimbabwe.com, was speaking at an Industry and Commerce Ministry organised business event in Harare Thursday. He said:
<blockquote>We are told that South Africa is now manufacturing Anti-Retroviral drugs but what you must know is that such developments could have been prompted by one notorious experimental individual.
Just here in Zimbabwe, Magaya revealed that he had found a cure for the virus but instead of inviting him to assess the credibility of his claims, you just rushed to harass and arrest him why?
We also had a brilliant invention by Daniel Chingoma years back, who invented a helicopter but instead of supporting him, he was rewarded by being arrested for illegally flying his plane.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mp-blasts-govt-for-stifling-magaya-hiv-cure-invention/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

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