HARARE – An Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter which was due to fly President Emmerson Mnangagwa from Bikita to Harare on Sunday only had crew onboard when it crashed during take-off at Masvingo Airport, information minister Jenfan Muswere said.

None of the crew members was seriously injured, the minister added.

“The helicopter which was supposed to fly the president crash landed after experiencing a technical fault, but the president was not on board. The helicopter only had crew members on board, and there were no fatalities,” Muswere told the ZBC on Monday.

Gift … A Mil Mi-38 VIP transport helicopter presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa by Russian leader Vladimir Putin in July 2023

The aircraft, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter, was taking off from Masvingo Airport just after 3PM on a short flight to Bikita to pick up Mnangagwa when it crashed.

Accident scene pictures showed the helicopter lying on its right side with the rotors broken.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is investigating.

Mnangagwa had earlier overseen a groundbreaking ceremony for a housing development. He was accompanied by the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, vice president Kembo Mohadi, and defence minister Opah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

New wings … The Mil Mi-38 helicopter which is set to become President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s transport on short flights

On a trip to Russia in July 2023, Mnangagwa was gifted a VIP transport helicopter – a Mil Mi-38 – but the aircraft has not entered service as pilots are still undergoing training.

Ageing aircraft and poor maintenance have seen Zimbabwe’s Air Force lose several aircraft to accidents in recent years.