By Patson Chilemba
Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander Lieutenant General Colin Barry says UPND secretary general Batuke Imenda happened to be one of the passengers in the advance party on a ZAF helicopter that had already been paid for by the government.
And Gen Barry said he cannot put a figure to how much was spent on the presidential trip to Northern Province but that the government “pays for these air assets, and I cannot give you a receipt because what happens is when such a movement occurs we are free to use our own resources and then get a payment from the government when the funds are ready.”
Speaking with Daily Revelation on Economic Front leader Wynter Kabimba’s 7-day ultimatum to Imenda within which to provide proof of payment for the charter of the ZAF helicopter which flew him to Kasama during President Hakainde Hichilema’s tour of Northern Province, Gen Barry said whenever the President goes into an area where there was a traditional ceremony, there were a number of air assets that were requested from the Air Force.
“Of course there is the presidential close party, there is the advance party and then there might also be a need for a second helicopter depending on how big the advance party is. So on that particular day, we had of course the usual number of aero planes which went in. It was, I think a helicopter and some fixed wing aircrafts which carry the number of people. One of those people on board happened to be the SG that you are referring to,” Gen Barry said. “He happened to be one of the many people on board of this aircraft. There is no truth to that statement that it was one helicopter used by the secretary general. We didn’t have anything of that sort. There are witnesses to that as well as our records. And then also these aircraft are fully paid for by the government. We bill the government and they make payment to us. So I got the letter (Kabimba’s letter), it was copied to me. I am pretty sure you know that it is very clear on the letter. But there is no truth to that at all. Just trying to pick out what somebody wants to notice and make it look as though it was an individual who just picked up a helicopter and went. That’s not how it works.”
He insisted that the helicopter was among those in the advance party for the presidential trip to Northern Province, and Imenda happened to be one of the passengers on one of the helicopters that had already been paid for by the government .
Asked how much was paid for, Gen Barry said one of their roles was to transport “our government around and the President around the country.”
“Depending on where they go, depending on how long they are there for we make calculations to put a figure to the amount of fuel that is being used, the wear and tear of the aircraft and so on. And this is something that happens with every movement. You have seen the President moving everyday to wherever he goes to by air. All those are specifically calculated for the duration that the aircraft is going to be used, the distance to where their destination is and so on,” Gen Barry said. “I can’t put a figure to it now but all I tell you is that is standard procedure. The government of the Republic of Zambia pays for these aircraft. They pay for these air assets, and I cannot give you a receipt because what happens is when such a movement occurs we are free to use our own resources and then get a payment from the government when the funds are ready. And up to now this is the system that has kept us flying these aircraft because they are paid for.”
But on the threat by Kabimba to seek legal redress, Gen Barry said: “If he takes legal action it will not even get to court because these are unfounded allegations. As I said it will never, you can say what you want because it’s your opinion but come and see the facts on the ground there is no, like I said there is no truth to that at all. So I don’t see it happening that it will end up in court. A letter has to be written, it’s not addressed to me so I am not going to respond to that. It’s a government and a party thing which I steer clear of. My job is not to do with the party. My job is to do with my allegiance to the President. Okay, and that is what we did we provided transport for the President’s movement. And that is standard procedure. Nothing unusual was in that transaction and we continue to do the same thing. We continue to provide transport to the government and the President, our Commander-In-Chief.”
