Issue No. 27 September 2019 Air News ZAMBIA AIR FORCE The Spirit of Flight OPERATIONS TAKE CENTRE STAGE Hold me Accountable - Lt Gen Muma Out-of-Base Operations G-650, C-27 take to the Zambian Skies 2019 ZAF Inter-Unit Games Zambia Air Force Magazine CONTENTS Foreword 4 Hold Me Accountable to the Pronouncements I Make Today - Lt Gen Muma 5 Operation “Solwezi Mabanga” 12 ZAF Exercises Interception Muscles 20 C-27 takes to the Zambian Skies 23 President Lungu Witnesses Zambia Army, ZAF Joint Exercise 26 Junior Officers Course Introduced 31 Construction of ZAF Twin Palm Primary School 35 APLC Construction of a Special Needs Block at Ndeke Primary School Elates Pupils 40 Maj Gondwe’s Academic Prowess Earns Him a Promotion 46 Late Maj Gen Kapotwe Chintu Remembered 50 2019 ZAF Inter-Unit Games Held 56 Editorial Board Chairperson Brig Gen W Lungu psc QFI ABOUT and for the ZAMBIA AIR FORCE Editor-in-Chief Lt Col C Manjimela Air Force News, the Spirit of Flight is Editorial Board Members Photographers an in-house magazine of the Zambia Lt Col R Katebe Capt C Mwale Air Force. Contributions are welcome. Maj C B Mwila Capt M Haangala WOII Muntanga A C Capt M Kalembwe Sgt Banda S The editorial staff, however, reserve Editor Capt L Zimba Sgt Chola B the right to edit all articles to this Maj H Chota Capt J Kapika Sgt Phiri S magazine. Opinions and expressions Mr Phiri A appearing in this publication do not Sub Editor Layout & Design Office Assistants necessarily reflect the official policy Maj J Milanzi WOI JJ Mutoya of the Zambia Air Force WOII Phiri H Mr Banda I Reporters Sgt Phiri J Mr Walubita B Mr Chibale C Maj T Nkhoma The Editor, Air News Magazine Maj N Muchoka Editorial Assistants Transport Zambia Air Force Headquarters Maj M Kayanda WOI M Sikazwa P.O. Box 31291 Maj K Mbimbi F/Sgt Mupunga P Mr Sembulo B H Mr Phiri V Lusaka, ZAMBIA Maj M Siisii F/Sgt Sifanu S Tel +260 211 252977/250671 Capt R Kapila 3 FOREWORD ay I begin by thanking the is not mere rhetoric, but has been followed Republican President and by decisive action. We have been consistent Commander-in-Chief of the with the payment of outstanding personnel M claims, with a declaration to liquidate all Defence Force, His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa LUNGU and the Patriotic Front outstanding claims that accrued before 2019 Government for the unwavering support by November 2019. Great strides have been being received by the Zambia Defence Force made in the procurements of various types of in general and, Zambia Air Force in particular. uniforms and kitting parades have since been This has helped us execute our mandate conducted in all the Formations. This is an effectively as prescribed in the Constitution on-going exercise. I wish to assure personnel of the Republic of Zambia. that throughout the tenure of this Command, Following my appointment as your Air good turn-out of personnel will be the norm. Force Commander on 19th September 2018, I We are also alive to the requirement to outlined my Plan of Action to ZAF personnel improve on the recreational facilities in our regarding the direction I want to take the Bases for our personnel to relax comfortably Air Force. I stressed that my Command with their families and friends. Recently, will be anchored on a two-prong approach new Messes for Warrant Officers and on the running of the Air Force, namely: Senior Non-Commissioned Officers were Operational Efficiency and Personnel opened in ZAF Twin Palm and ZAF Mount Welfare. By extension allied to these critical Eugenia. Currently, the following new areas is Infrastructure Development, with Mess constructions are in progress: ZAF Lt Gen David M Muma psc DFM ED Twin Palm Officers’ Mess; Warrant Officers an emphasis on infrastructure that had a Air Force Commander direct bearing on operational efficiency and and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ personnel welfare. Messes in ZAF Ndola, ZAF Kabwe, ZAF Mumbwa and ZAF This magazine being the first publication of its nature since Livingstone. Messes under renovations include the Officers’ my ascendancy to the office of Air Force Commander, I wish Mess, Warrant Officers and SNCOs Mess and the Junior Ranks to highlight the progress we have made since my inaugural Club at ZAF Samora Machel, as well as, ZAF Lusaka Warrant address to personnel. I wish to reiterate that I still stand by Officers and SNCOs’ Mess. this proclamation that I should be held accountable to the My Command recognises that a trained Force is a pre-requisite pronouncements that I make. to attaining the goals we have set for ourselves, particularly that The Zambia Air Force has intensified Operational activities the Air Force has continued to grow in terms of structure, roles, in an effort to enhance efficiency and combat readiness. The equipment, manpower levels, as such, it is imperative that we number of out-of-base operations, night flying, interception have personnel trained to handle this growth. exercises and the planned forthcoming Command Post Exercise, I therefore, wish to re-affirm my resolve towards personnel are indicative of my commitment to ensure that we enhance and career progression and capacity building. My Command has maintain combat readiness and operational efficiency. More of initiated two deliberate programmes dubbed Civil Certification such operations will be conducted during the rest of the year. 2021 (CC21) and Diploma/Degree 2030 (DD2030). The CC21 My Command will continue to support operations through the programme will ensure that our pilots, technicians, cabin crew provision of aviation fuels and supporting enhancement courses and load masters attain civil certification by 2021. and training for pilots, technicians, air traffic controllers, air As a way of attaining DD2030, whereby all personnel defence operators, suppliers, administrators and other support obtain either Diplomas or Degrees by 2030, the ZAF School branches. My intent is that all components of the Air Force must of Advanced Learning is under construction at Air Force be exercised and fully capable to support the Core Business of Headquarters. The Centre will begin to enrol in the First Quarter the Air Force. of 2020 and graduates from the Centre will be offered diplomas As regards our growth strategy, our expansion and degrees by universities that ZAF has signed Memoranda of programme is on schedule. We have already Understanding (MoUs) with. undertaken to create Provincial Air Defence To enhance the proficiency, militarisation and discipline of Centres (PADCs). Presently, the Solwezi PADC to cover North- Junior Officers and Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, courses Western Province and the Mansa PADC for Luapula Province for these category of our personnel have been introduced and are already operational. We envisage having Chipata and Mongu will be run regularly. They will also act as bridge courses for the PADCs operational by December 2019. The ZAF Parachute next lined up courses in the established career progression in the School to train our parachutists has also been established as a first Air Force. step towards the established of an airborne unit. We have further These training programmes will ensure that we have a qualified undertaken to create the Air Ambulance Unit as an emergency and competent force with good workmanship. Additionally, the responder for both local and international medical flights. The attained professional qualifications will assist our personnel perception that 19 Squadron is meant for ‘sentry duties’ will settle once they separate from the Air Force. soon be a thing of the past as the process of turning this squadron May I stress here that for us to achieve the goals that we have set into a robust VIP Protection Unit with the appropriate equipment for ourselves, it calls for high levels of discipline. This discipline has advanced. does not only limit to the Zambia Air Force as an institution, In terms of acquisition of the requisite equipment, a number but extends to Loyalty of personnel to the Government-of-the- of equipment have been delivered. For instance, this year ZAF Day, which is in line with Oath of Allegiance that all personnel received the G-650 and C-27J aircraft. These two aircraft will undertook before commencing military training and should be greatly increase the air mobility capability of the Air Force in honoured throughout our military careers. terms of VVIP/VIP movements and other general air mobility. Acquisition of other equipment to further enhance our Air Defence capabilities is in progress. We have also procured different Mechanical Transport equipment which includes troop carriers, general-purpose trucks, ambulances buses and staff vehicles to ease road mobility of equipment and personnel. Lt Gen David M Muma psc DFM ED Additionally, my Command will continue to place a high Air Force Commander premium on personnel welfare. I wish to mention here that this 4 News HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PRONOUNCEMENTS I MAKE TODAY By Maj Helen Chota - Lt Gen Muma Air Force faced and what needed to be done. Lt Gen Muma explained that he had seen first-hand the challenges that ZAF Formations were facing. He stated that the prudent use of resources was necessary in order to harness finances required to resolve the institution’s challenges and that of personnel. Lt Gen Muma informed personnel that his leadership would be centred on enhancing operational efficiency and improving personnel welfare. “The flying effort will exercise not only pilots and technicians, but also air traffic controllers, suppliers, administrators, finance officers and other support staff. Exercising all components of the Air Force will bring job satisfaction and efficiency,” Lt Gen Muma said.