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Thursday, April 25, 2002 - Web posted at 9:50:38 pm GMT

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma yesterday maintained there is nothing wrong with Government's plans to buy two new helicopters.

In fact, Nujoma said, a country like Namibia should have helicopters for the smooth running of Government affairs.

"We cannot run a government without any helicopters," the President said in the National Assembly in response to a question by DTA-UDF Coalition leader Katuutire Kaura.

He was fielding questions from opposition leaders after his annual State of the Nation address.

Nujoma said the helicopters were not only for the transportation of senior Government officials but could also be used for rescue operations in times of natural disasters, like "floods or fires".

"Choppers," he said, could be used "to rescue our population."
Namibia had owned helicopters before Independence but the colonial South African regime left with them at Independence.

"Only [the] two choppers of NamPower and NamWater were left," he said.

He said Government bought the Falcon Jet and the Lear Jet after Independence to complement Air Namibia's passenger aircraft.

"The choppers will be purchased and is intended to serve the nation," the President said emphatically.

Government plans to buy two Bell Agusta AB139 helicopters. The one to transport VIPs will cost US$8,383 million (N$93 million), while the multi-purpose model is set to cost US$8,021 million (N$89 million).

According to the Development Budget, N$43 million will be spent on the helicopters this year, a further N$38,456 million next yea, and in 2004, around N$76,325 million.

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