By Tendai Chisiri
Columbus Mavhunga, a correspondent with Voice of America is under investigations on allegations of operating a drone that was not licenced by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.
In a press statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP) confirms that investigations are being conducted with a report of trespass and invasion of premises made at ZRP Waterfalls by IQRA Islamic Centre, Harare.
“In this regard, a journalist attached to a foreign media house, Columbus Mavhunga (51), is assisting the police with investigations after a Mevic Pro model Lip drone which he was operating along Masotsha Way near Simon Mazorodze rammed onto the Islamic Centre’s building and fell down,” ZRP press and public relations officer Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
A misunderstanding ensured resulting in the centre’s administrator aged 53 making a report to police.
The police is also looking into allegations that the drone was not licenced by Civil Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).
Drones can be used in agriculture for crop analysis and monitoring, crop spraying, in journalism doing photography and security and surveillance. To register for a drone at CAAZ one requires US$50.
A training is required for CAAZ to licence a drone operator. With Drone Solutions Academy one is required to fork out US$900 for licence and also the Aviation Training Academy of Zimbabwe (ATAZ) a unit of CAAZ also train and licence.
“Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police urges individuals and institutions to ensure that they obtain licences to operate drones and engage neighbours if using drones for private purposes,” Paul Nyathi said.
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