Thursday, March 28, 2024

Government to procure five Helicopters for food relief exercise

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 Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo
Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo

Government says it will procure five Helicopters to help in air-lifting relief food to flood prone areas in the country.

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Steven Kampyongo says his ministry is sourcing funds for the procurement of the three helicopters.

Mr. Kampyongo says at the moment his office through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was relying on Zambia Air Force (ZAF) helicopters to air-lift the maize to needy areas.

He disclosed this in Kalabo when he addressed the DDMU officials at Kalabo Council Chamber, yesterday.

Mr. Kampyongo assured the nation that government was determined to ensure that its citizens don’t go hungry but have enough food.

The Deputy Minister further disclosed that his office has procured six by six heavy trucks suitable for all terrains of ferrying maize in even sandy areas like Kalabo, Mongu and Nalolo districts.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kampyongo has warned against discriminating vulnerable communities and politicizing relief maize aimed at befitting any desperately calamity stricken person.

He said his office was disturbed by reports that the relief maize was being politicized by DDMU officials when it was supposed to benefit any disadvantaged citizen adding that relief food should evenly be distributed to the beneficiaries across the country.

And Kalabo DMMU Vice Coordinator Mwiya Inambao disclosed that the district has received 200 Metric Tonnes of relief food to be distributed to the flood victims.

Mr. Inambao who is also Kalabo District administrative Officer (DAO) further stated that Kalabo has so far experienced seven floods and three droughts in the last 31 years.

He bemoaned the poor rainfall patterns being experienced in the area as the district was threatened with severe hunger if the 200 Metric Tonnes was quickly consumed.

The Deputy Minister is in Western province on a fact finding mission and to acquaint himself with the operations of the DDMU committees and is accompanied by Western Province Permanent secretary Augustine Seyuba, Provincial DMMU Coordinator Pumulo Mubita and other senior government officials.

16 COMMENTS

  1. Is it not better to leave the helicopter business with ZAF/ or buy for ZAF? They are better equipped to utilize and manage these. Also, it stops ZAF staff from lazying around and is cost effective.

    • This whole business of DMMU buyingh choppers is part of PF campaign strategy for 2016! Watch the space and don’t Kubeba

  2. Maureen was not attacked but was doing some fitness exercises.
    Back to topic.
    Hon I don’t see any need for govt to procure choppers when zaf choppers and personnel are lazying about and earning our tax money. Why not assign a section of zaf to be working hand in hand with yo ministry as well as DMMU.

  3. Don’t give food handouts to the impoverished to be consumed in a day; empower and teach that populace in unreachable areas to farm and they will never go hungry for life.

    • @Misango…, did you read the story before commenting? It clearly states the reasons why they these people need relief food. Read it again!

      Here is the quote for you:

      “…Mr. Kampyongo has warned against…politicizing relief maize aimed at benefiting…calamity stricken persons…And Kalabo DMMU Vice Coordinator Mwiya Inambao disclosed that the district has received 200 Metric Tonnes of relief food to be distributed to the flood victims…Mr. Inambao…further stated that Kalabo has so far experienced seven floods and three droughts in the last 31 years…”

      So clearly these people are in a bad situation food wise due to factors beyond their control (floods and droughts) and NOT because they have no idea how to grow their own food!

  4. Misappropriation of Government money has started. Ifintu Ni Donchi Kubeba!! Never heard foolishness of this kind before.
    Just be honest & say we obtained these Helicopters for our 2016 Campaigns, & we got a hefty Kickback for our own pockets, for purchasing from this firm. Wouldn’t be surprised at all, to find out later, a certain Ex- President was involved in this Scam!

  5. Procured from where? what type of craft are they? wont these helicopters be misused in the time of elections by the ruling party it’s not always people are cut off in the year!!

  6. Guys,
    We need to embark on afforestation of the banks of the Zambezi river to arrest the flow of rain water. It is this rush of water that leads to flooding. By arresting the flow of water, we will give it time to percolate and recharge the water table. It is the springs from the water table that will keep the river flowing all year round. It is common these days for Victoria Falls to run dry in October. This is because we did not allow the watertable to recharge. Prof Wangari Maathai had a plan to do this, then she was diagnosed with cancer, so the project ground to a halt.

  7. Which people are hungry and why? In this era which people are not able to grow enough food for themselves? Teach everyone to grow enough maize or cassava and feed their families, this foolishness of buying helicopters to ferry food for lazy people is encouraging stupid way of voting. Let them die if they can not look after themselves

  8. It is an expensive exercise to use helicopters for food delivery also an ineficient and expensive way of carrying bags of maize (food). Allocating more monety to hiring ZAF helicopters when there is need for relief food delivery in an area is cheaper in many ways: no need for maintance and employing personnel. What will these helicopters be doing when there no relief food delivery. If he wants to use them for ambulance services too that would be beneficial and fine.

    Edgar tested the cost of hiring helicopters during campaigns, this is just a gimmick preparing for 2016 campaigns to have free transport for his party.

  9. Guys I have another thought – EL used hired helicopters during the last campaigns, it is possible that there was an agreement to eventually buy them if they won + two or three extra ones. They may come in different colours but the VIN number and other details will remain. One just needs to recheck the source + the copter details.

  10. What does procure mean in this context? Purchase, Lease or Rent. Considering we do not expect this exercise to be a annual event, I won’t be surprised if this is a stunt for preparing 2016 Elections.

  11. The cost of those FIVE helicopters is more than the cost of building an IRRIGATION scheme that will enable 50,000 people to grow their own food all year round!

    Is this how Government wastes the US$ 8 Billion that they have borrowed and will expect the Zambian Taxpayer to repay???

    These *****s have no idea how much helicopters cost to buy, and TO OPERATE!

    This Steven Kampyongo should pay for them from his own salary, then he would sing a different song VERY QUICKLY!

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