l The Ministry does not own a jet, nor has it ever owned one. The Ministry does have several aircraft which include fixed wing and a helicopter, we suppose it is one of these which is being referred to as a ‘luxurious jet’. Referring to any of these aircraft as a jet is highly misleading to the public and other stakeholders.
l These aircraft were purchased to facilitate the management of wildlife. They are used by Department of Wildlife and National Parks officers and other Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism personnel when addressing wildlife conservation related issues including stakeholder meetings, monitoring wildlife translocation and law enforcement exercises. The Minister being the political head of the Ministry has the right to use any Ministry aircraft as a mode of transport in discharging his Ministerial responsibilities and mandate of environmental conservation. As it is the case with other Ministries operating Government owned aircraft, the aircraft are available to other Ministries who need the similar services. In this regard 12 other Ministries have utilized some of these aircraft in the last year.
