4HolerPoler
11th Oct 2006, 08:41
Doesn't sound right but where there's smoke there's fire - anyone know anything more?
A prominent Victoria Falls tour operator has been arrested for allegedly stealing a government helicopter shortly after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. It was reported on Wednesday that the operator apparently flew the aircraft to Zambia, where he was using it for his own business. Deputy police commander of Matabeleland North Edward Mbewe confirmed the arrest. Other police sources said the tour operator, who moved to Zambia soon after independence, took the four-seater helicopter in the early 1980s. They said he flew the helicopter into the neighbouring Zambia, where he allegedly started flying tourists over the Victoria Falls. A source said: "He stole the helicopter, which he re-painted and converted to his own use. In Zambia, he opened a company called Southern Cross Airways that was flying tourists over the mighty Victoria Falls from that side." The sources said the tour operator took advantage of the handing over of equipment from the colonial regime to the present government to steal the chopper. The source said the matter only came to light after an independent task force began investigations into government machinery that was missing.
Sure, the chopper goes missing in the early 80's & they just caught up with him now. :uhoh:
4HP
A prominent Victoria Falls tour operator has been arrested for allegedly stealing a government helicopter shortly after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. It was reported on Wednesday that the operator apparently flew the aircraft to Zambia, where he was using it for his own business. Deputy police commander of Matabeleland North Edward Mbewe confirmed the arrest. Other police sources said the tour operator, who moved to Zambia soon after independence, took the four-seater helicopter in the early 1980s. They said he flew the helicopter into the neighbouring Zambia, where he allegedly started flying tourists over the Victoria Falls. A source said: "He stole the helicopter, which he re-painted and converted to his own use. In Zambia, he opened a company called Southern Cross Airways that was flying tourists over the mighty Victoria Falls from that side." The sources said the tour operator took advantage of the handing over of equipment from the colonial regime to the present government to steal the chopper. The source said the matter only came to light after an independent task force began investigations into government machinery that was missing.
Sure, the chopper goes missing in the early 80's & they just caught up with him now. :uhoh:
4HP