Online Reporter
Bernard Yombayomba
THE Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) is participating in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) aviation exercise, code-named Exercise Blue Lugwasho, hosted by Zambia.
This humanitarian initiative aims to assist provinces affected by climate change, particularly the El Niño phenomenon, which has led to drought conditions in parts of Zambia.
The official opening ceremony took place at Lusaka Air Force Base on September 8.
The programme, which ends on September 26, involves the delivery of 450 tonnes of maize to Maamba and Namwala districts in the Southern Province, where it will be distributed to beneficiaries. It is conducted under the theme, “Sadc Air Forces: Enhancing Sadc regional stability through air power.”
During the food aid delivery at Livingstone Air Force Base, Air Commodore Maxwell Sakupwanya, the Air Component Commander for AFZ, expressed his enthusiasm for supporting the initiative with both air and ground assets.
“I want to acknowledge that the enemy to humanity has surpassed the traditional enemy that we used to know. Due to climate change, human security is at stake. Hence, as part of the SADC Standing Aviation Committee (SSAC), we are ready to support this exercise with our aircraft and haulage trucks to airlift and ferry the food aid to beneficiaries in the Southern Province,” said Air Commodore Sakupwanya.
He emphasised that the exercise serves as a valuable learning experience, as Zimbabwe is set to host a similar aviation exercise in the future.
Presently, eight SADC member States are participating in the food relief distribution, including Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
“This exercise is a biannual event, so Zimbabwe will be the next host in 2027. We are also learning and sharing experiences with others such that by the time we shall host, we will be completely ready. “Such exercises expose us to the existential threats to our region, and we find common solutions that bring lasting peace and security to our nations. It is through these exercises that our regional integration is strengthened,” he Air Commodore Sakupwanya.
At the Lusaka Air Force Base, Mr Makoye Chisuta, the assistant director of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of Zambian Vice President Dr Mutale Nalumango, emphasised the DMMU’s role in responding to disaster situations.
“We have been working with military aviation authorities in Sadc member States in the planning phase, and we are expecting the execution phase to deliver the food relief very soon.
“The DMMU facilitated the release of 450 tonnes of grain; that relief consignment has been apportioned to designated districts in the exercise,” he stated.
The food relief is expected to reach the affected districts in the coming days, with the exercise adhering strictly to Sadc protocols.
