MARYLAND - Zimbabwe has received 18 of the 32 helicopters sourced from Russia at a cost of over $320 million amid the country’s crumbling local currency.
According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the helicopters, which were delivered in Harare Thursday, will be used for emergency services, tourism and air policing.
Mnangagwa did not disclose the nature of the deal with the Russian government that is engaged in a fierce war with Ukraine.
He dismissed suggestions that Zimbabwe should not have any form of relations with Russia, noting that some former freedom fighters of the 1960s were trained in that nation.
The West imposed targeted sanctions on Zanu PF officials and some entities tied to the ruling government following claims of human rights abuses and election rigging.
Mnangagwa is quoted by The Herald as saying, “The Russian Federation is under sanctions. Zimbabwe is under sanction from the same people for different reasons … Then you are told don’t speak to that guy who is under sanctions when I am also under sanctions. You are saying victims of sanctions should not speak to each other. What nonsense!”
Critics say Mnangagwa’s government should, instead of buying expensive helicopters, fix the crumbling local currency and ailing economy.
Zimbabwe’s dollar is crushing against the greenback as US$1 is now equivalent to ZWL$2,058.32 (official rate) and over ZWL$3,200 in the black market.