Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company says it has concluded a contract with Zambian carriers to deliver four Superjet 100-passenger planes to Zambia in early 2018, including one VIP version for the President, according to Russian media.

But Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba told News Diggers! in an interview that he was not aware of such a development involving the Zambian government or any Zambian company.

According to the Sputnik International of Moscow and several other Russian television stations, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) president Yury Slyusar said this yesterday.

“Yesterday, we signed [contracts] on an absolutely new market — the African market, we signed a contract with Zambian companies to supply four [SSJ 100] planes plus one aircraft in the VIP version for the head of state,” Slyusar said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television.

“Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company has concluded a contract with Zambian carriers to deliver a total of five Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger planes in 2018. The delivery of the aircraft to the African continent will take place as early as next year,” he added.

Slyusar added that four more aircraft could be delivered to the newly created airline of Zambia.

On July 12, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that active negotiations were underway to supply Russian airliners to a number of African countries, including Zambia.

The SSJ100 is a twin-engine plane made by Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. It can transport up to 98 passengers and fly distances of up to 2,700 miles. The jet made its maiden flight in May 2008. The SSJ100 is a twin-engine plane made by Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. It can transport up to 98 passengers and fly distances of up to 2,700 miles. The jet made its maiden flight in May 2008.

But Mushimba said the story should be treated as fake.

When asked if it was not true that government was buying another aircraft for President Edgar Lungu, Mushimba said it was not under his domain to talk about that, but that he was not aware that any Zambian company was purchasing aircrafts to start flying in the country.

“I can’t talk about the President buying a plane for himself or not, that is not in my domain. But Zambia or a Zambian company has not bought planes to start flying in Zambia,” said Mushimba.

“I think it’s fake. I have no clue what that story is talking about. It does not mention the local entity the Chinese are working with…it’s not correct.”