WORLD ORDERS AND DECORATIONS
After overcoming a minor logistical problem at the airport with Chikondo losing his boarding pass, we finally got the trip under way. I recall the excitement of his wife and family who had come all the way to the airport to bid him farewell. He had never been out of Zimbabwe before so this was the start of a huge adventure. As we dined, he watched every move I made at the table to be sure he chose the proper eating utensil. Salisbury airport to Heathrow was an interesting transition for him.
It gave me great pleasure to describe the advances we had made in several aspects of guerilla warfare. This included an almost total disregard for outdated operational parachuting regulations and precautions. The look of disbelief on the faces of the audience indicated they thought we were having them on. They were stunned to hear how Chikondo and his mentor Schulenburg would set about a HALO two-man parachute entry, deep in enemy territory. Thereafter they would split and operate as individuals. I resisted giving my honest opinion on the tactical wisdom of a two-man recce and decided rather to bask in Chikondo’s glory. I really do not think the Brits believed us.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sharing his adventure. The person who should have travelled with Chikondo was his partner, Schulenburg. However, Chris had already departed for South Africa so I was just a convenient stand-in. After all the hazardous missions he had gone through, Chikondo was eventually murdered in Zimbabwe: payback time, I assume.’ (Ibid)
Chikondo spent six years with the Zimbabwe Parachute Battalion before being posted to the Llewellin Barracks on the formation of 6 Brigade. He advanced to Major and returned to what was now called Para Group, with whom he was the Officer Commanding of the Training Depot.
Chikondo retired from the army in 1991, and joined the Fawcet Security Company where it was recorded in official records that he was accidentally killed by a fellow member of that organisation. He died of a gunshot wound at Harare Central Hospital, 17 February 1991.
Major Chikondo, as befitting of his status within the Selous Scouts history, is mentioned and appears in photographs in many publications including Pamwe Chete, The Legends of the Selous Scouts by Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Reid-Daly. He also appears on the front cover with Warrant Officer Dennis Croukamp, of the latter’s book The Bush War in Rhodesia.
Sold with the following related original items: Government House letter of congratulations on the occasion of the award of the Silver Cross of Rhodesia, signed by the President, and dated 2 September 1974; named Zimbabwe Military Academy Company Commanders Course Certificate, dated 29 January 1984 - 25 May 1984; Record of Service, stamped Chief Clerk HQ First (Zimbabwe) Parachute Group, dated 12 September 1998; Carbon copy of standing orders for recipient as Captain, Officer Commanding Training Wing 1 (Zimbabwe) Infantry Training Depot, dated 26 July 1982; 2 sets of orders regarding pre-parachute training schedules, signed by recipient in his capacity as Officer Commanding Training Depot, Headquarters Parachute Group, dated 28 February 1989 and 20 April 1989 respectively; certified true copy of original Outward Bound Mountain School, Melsetter, Confidential Report on recipient, dated 22 February - 16 March 1973; four photographs of recipient in uniform, from various stages of career and other copied research.
www.dnw.co.uk
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