The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) has concluded the procurement procedures of a medium utility helicopter (MUH). ZAF Commander, Colin Barry, said the helicopter, which is expected be ready in the next two to three months, will be dedicated to carrying out different services.
Lieutenant General Barry said the helicopter will be used as air ambulance and also for movements of troops and flood victims. He said the new helicopter will be an addition to the two, whose procurement processes are still under way. He added that existing helicopter will help improve service delivery.
Lt. Gen. Barry said this today during the official handover of the Ibex Aviation Town office block and the renovated ZAF Twin Palm office blocks in Lusaka.
“I am happy to announce that we have concluded the procurement procedures for the medium utility helicopter. This is in addition to our inventory which will restore our capacity to carry out our core functions such as movement of troops, medical and casualty evacuation, air medicine, relief food distribution, evacuation of flood victims and many other duties,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Barry further said this acquisition is of great importance as it will enable ZAF to carry out its constitutional mandate and respond positively to the needs of the people within the country and the region.
He said government will continue modernising office spaces and infrastructure, including equipment for effective delivery of services.
Meanwhile, ZAF Twin Palm Station Commander, Gigi Handima, said the continued efforts by government to modernise infrastructure in the Zambia Air Force is motivating.
Colonel Handima said the renovated offices will be a morale booster to men and women in uniform as it will inculcate a culture of accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
He said the renovations, which started in June 2020, have seen five office spaces being constructed.
And Ibex Aviation Town Commandant, Daniel Kabinda, said works on the new offices that have been commissioned commenced in 2018.
Brigadier General Kabinda said officers were using some of the housing units as offices due to lack of office space.
He said this will no doubt be a morale booster for the officers who were using houses as offices adding that this will in turn help improve service delivery.