Maj Gen Muma said the acquisition of aircrafts, air defence equipment and construction of support infrastructure was a clear sign that Government was very eager to modernise the operations of ZAF.
He said this during the 2017 Livingstone air force base officers annual ball at the ZAF banquet hall in Livingstone on Friday.
“We recently received 450 unmanned aerial vehicles or drones which are currently based at ZAF Mumbwa air force base.
“The acquisition of the drones will enhance our surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and in the first quarter of 2018, two Spartan aircrafts will be delivered and this will increase the flying capacity of air transport support command,” he said.
He said ZAF was in the process of establishing a school of excellence which was to include the delivery of 15 aircraft for training purposes.
“It is this support from Government that has enabled ZAF to effectively protect Zambia’s airspace and territorial integrity through the projection of air power,” he said.
He said Government was committed to improving conditions of service so that ZAF personnel and their families are able to sustain themselves and save money for future investment.
Speaking earlier ZAF Livingstone station commander Colin Barry said the Livingstone station had carried out a number of tasks that had transformed the operations and resulted in effective and efficient delivery of service.
“Throughout 2017, this station carried out a number of tasks ranging from routine administrative and logistical activities.
“Without doubt the most notable was the commissioning, wings parade and presidential commissioning that took place last month in November and we are sincerely grateful for your support,”Col Barry said.
It’s the duty of Government to protect it’s citizens. Maj. General want to sound like ZAF is a private company outside of government. Blind loyalty and bootlicking should remain in 2017. Speak like you are are an Air Force General, don’t sound like a Party Cadre. Tell the citizens what you are doing to keep the country safe, not just rambling praises to the Government.
Those expensive annual balls have started. But my Zambia….
“It is this support from Government that has enabled ZAF to effectively protect Zambia’s airspace and territorial integrity through the projection of air power.”
Who attacked Zambia from the air?
Meanwhile, poachers fly in and out at will, according to former Belinda.
Ah the saint boi – good point I did not see that side of things. Well done!
Poachers have been an ar.se invading our airspace and killing our animals. Chinese, Americans and God knows which other countries fly in to shoot down our animals.
All because of poor defence system. I can only hope those drones are armed so we can shoot down these helicopters invading our space to send a signal that we ain’t fu.ucking around.
The only sad part is we buy these assets with our blood at prices that are ridiculous. Do these guys who do this have a heart for this country? Are they foreigners nangu chaba shani kanshi?
How much? Where are the obviously inflated figures this time?
This one is where the meat for contractors must have been.
It will dwarf the fire trucks like child’s play.
No wonder the finance intelligence committee detected individuals moving out 1 billion dollars in a short space of time by some scrupulous power abusers in government.
Cash cow for corrupt crooks masquerading as leaders.
Which war is Zambia fighting??
Against Democracy?
The habit of thanking the government for doing what government is supposed to do exists only here in Zambia. I wonder why it is so.. Its like a child thanking his own parents for clothing him and putting food on the table…..
By the same token, I don’t worship God. Everything he does is his responsibility. I don’t thank people for doing what they ought to do. This bootlicking culture, in all its forms, must remain in 2017.
ZAF needs a heavy lifter and not the twin engined Spartans made by Leonardo of Italy. We need heavy lifters like the C-130H series, 2 of them to be able to carry material or human cargo from internal flights to long distance routes – Europe, China, and to all parts of Africa.
We also need a seriously professional crop of officers not the current ones who are disguised PF members in words and deeds. I suspect that they have been responsible for the militarization of Zambia Police too.
“450 unmanned aerial vehicles or drones” Who are they spying on? Seriously, if they are sending them to Libya to save Africans then yes.
& Nzelu, that we need… dig a little and see how our airspace have been violated by portures.
We need detail to understand if the drones are armed to shoot down these whites violating our air space.
My concern is how much did we pay? We certainly bought the at inflated price going by what has been happening.
@ Nzelu, that we need… dig a little and see how our airspace has been violated by portures.
We need detail to understand if the drones are armed to shoot down these whites violating our air space.
My concern is how much did we pay? We certainly bought the at inflated price going by what has been happening.
how do you make a report like this one. show us the pictures..even file images
When are their going to build city market, and what about the cbu students, we are tired of this stories, it was 45 fire tenders now is 450 drones. Are we in Afghanistan?
Naimwe ba ZAF, where is your security conscience? It is for party cadres to sing praise songs for their presidents, not you, yaba!!
Imwe ba civilian.. Its not 450 in quantity.. 450 is the UAV model.
Its called the elbit Hermes 450 UAV. Israeli made