Daniel Chingoma, engineer behind the Zimcopter, dies at 56

ZIMSPHERE

HARARE – Daniel Chingoma, a renowned engineer, entrepreneur, and musician, has died after an undisclosed illness. He was 56. 

Daniel Chingoma and his Zimcopter. 

Chingoma was best known for his innovative helicopter, the Zimcopter, which captivated the nation despite never taking flight due to government restrictions. Designed in 2003 using a Lexus V8 engine and scrap metal, the Zimcopter was an indicator of his inventive spirit, although it lacked official documentation. In 2009 he built a second version of the Zimcopter; but both versions never got clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).

Born with a passion for engineering, Chingoma founded Taisek Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, producing second-hand water pumps for boreholes. His love for aerodynamics began in childhood, crafting maize stalk planes, and fueled his unorthodox attempts at aviation.

Beyond engineering, Chingoma ventured into music, releasing his second album, Are You Serious," in August 2013. The album, featuring tracks like “Njike Njike” and “Ngoma Yemafaro,” was released by Last Power Media.

Perhaps obviously frustrated by the ever deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe, Daniel Chingoma also expanded his wings to the political arena, forming the Zimbabwe Industrial and Technological Revolutionary (ZITER) in 2010. He had a belief that his party would appeal to intellectuals, though it never gained any significant traction in the hotly contested and cutthroat political landscape of Zimbabwe. 

Legal troubles shadowed Chingoma, including a conviction in June 2013 for fraud, resulting in an 18-month sentence, partially suspended. He also faced eviction from the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds in 2009 for living there illegally.

Chingoma was definitely different things to many people. To some, he was the epitome of independent innovation, whose brilliance of the mind could have been expanded further had he got the necessary support. 

To others, his inventions were not really inventions in the strongest sense of the word; but signs of danger to society as he made dangerous machines without the necessary regulatory approval and without the right resources. In all this, one can only manage to say Rest In Peace Daniel Chingoma.