admin
Herald Reporter
Government is impressed with the knowledge being shared between the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) and the Namibian Air Force (NAF) in joint firepower demonstrations currently underway, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi has said.
Minister Sekeramayi said this on Wednesday in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa, at a joint training and firepower demonstration conducted by AFZ and NAF at Kutanga Range in Kwekwe.
The event was attended by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, acting Namibian Defence Forces Commander Air Vice Marshal Martin Pinehas, Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri and Zimbabwe Defence Industries chairman Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, among others.
The event was code-named “Savanna Thunderbolt One” as a follow up to a similar exercise held last year in Namibia named “Desert Thunder One”.
It was conducted after a week-long training programme for pilots and technicians from AFZ and NAF to plan and execute the engagement of various military targets using a variety of weapons such as rockets, locally modified gunships and manufactured 250kg bombs.
“This comes as a background to subregional efforts to maintain peace and stability and we anticipate the two parties will put to good use the lessons from the joint training. This also established a roadmap for a field training exercise for African states which will be held in 2015 in Southern Africa.
“We are set to take practical steps to ensure objectives of maintaining peace in the region are obtained. This emanates from the history we shared from our liberation struggles and our bond has blossomed and we are pleased with the positive results from that. We are willing to engage in joint field exercises and identify areas of further co-operation since it is our duty to preserve the friendship,” he said.
Minister Sekeramayi applauded the NAF for the assistance they availed during the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster.
General Chiwenga hailed the technicians and pilots who underwent the training.
“The event has been remarkable since it has been attended by Minister Mnangagwa on behalf of Minister Sekeramayi, who had attended urgent Government business elsewhere.
“It is a privilege since the exercises are being witnessed by one of the pioneers of the country’s armed struggle who was imprisoned with President Robert Mugabe by the brutal colonial regime,” he said.
Air Marshal Shiri said the exercises had also placed emphasis on humanitarian assistance operations in view of emerging threats posed by natural disasters such as floods and drought.
“While the Sadc region is enjoying relative peace and tranquillity, it, however, does not take away the need for the military to train and prepare for operations,” said Air Marshal Shiri.
“The joint exercises have aptly made mention of thunder in reference to the unique capabilities of air power such as speed, height and reach. These capabilities have ensured that air power plays a decisive role in all phases of military and humanitarian assistance operations.
“It was in view of the roles of air power in the successful conduct of Sadc security operations that the Sadc standing ovation committee was established. Its objective is to ensure interoperability among regional air forces in order to effectively respond to security threats which can be guaranteed through the conduct of joint exercises,” said Air Marshal Shiri.
Air Vice Marshal Pinehas congratulated the ZDF and technicians who designed ammunition with local resources used by the AFZ.
The senior uniformed officials also witnessed the seven K8 fighter jets from AFZ and NAF and Agusta Bell helicopters demonstrating their prowess on Canberra planes which were set as targets in the range.
They were also shown the modified gunship which fires 3 000 rounds per minute and the bombs which are capable of destroying a an area with a radius of more than 120 metres.
Online Reporter