A (US made) DRONE AIRCRAFT fitted with cameras and owned by a tour operator in Victoria Falls has raised the ire of residents and tour operators who fear it is a security risk as its operations are shrouded in mystery.
The drone, known as the quadcopter or quadrotor helicopter, is a multi-rotor craft that is lifted and propelled by four rotors and remote-controlled by a person on the ground.
Residents accuse the operator of spying on them and were no longer free to do their business fearing their images were being captured by the gadget.
To add to the mystery, residents said they had no idea what the videos taken over residential places were being used for.
Reports were that the gadget was also used to fly over the falls, risking accidents, as it could interfere with helicopters from Zimbabwe and Zambia flying over the water falls, a journey known as the Flight of the Angels.
Fears were that the gadget could be used for spying, as it flew over protected areas or poaching, as it could easily be used to spy on wildlife.
Victoria Falls residents’ association chairperson Morgan Gaza Dube said the drone should be stopped from operating until stakeholders agree on its operations.
“It’s really unacceptable for a person to operate such a gadget without telling us what it’s all about,” he said.
“We don’t know the purpose of the filming.
“We feel very insecure because no one has explained to us what it’s all about.
“It’s like walking into someone’s home and filming.”
Dube said authorities should introduce regulations on the use of unmanned aircraft.
“What value is that gadget adding to Victoria Falls?” he asked.
“We feel it should be stopped first and we meet as stakeholders so that we understand its purpose and agree, unlike the current situation where it’s just being flown without our knowledge.”
The owner of the drone could not be reached for comment yesterday. – SouthernEye
14 Replies to “US Mystery Drone Causes Stir in Victoria Falls”
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You have an iPhone? You’re definitely a perv lol
I didn’t know public places were off limits to photographing.
Didn’t know a photo spot was a private place?
And I’m violating an animals right to privacy? Lol
Sounds like fear mongering. It sells news. Keep watching local news sheeple
“US made” , everything is made in Asia ( all electronic devices a fact) maybe assembled in US .
YOU DONT HAVE TO GET CONSENT IN ORDER TO FILM IN A PUBLIC PLACE. THE WRITER SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE FLYING HELICOPTERS ARE BANNED AS THEY MAY ALSO BE SPYING. YOU SHOULD HAVE ADVICED THAT INSTEAD OF BANNING THE DRONE IT MIGHT ALSO BE USED TO MONITOR POACHING ACTIVITIES. NGATISASARIRE KUMASHURE VARUME.
Well if that’s the case why don’t we Juss ban anything that has a recording device like our phones .I have been recorded a couple of times without my consent.we should be able to see things as they are “It’s a Juss a flying toy”.Its like people are afraid of change check this out …….
Man Builds His Own Helicopter – Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (1994)
Check out this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybgQJlYRrZs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my iPhone
This Dube is ignorant of the benefits of drones. If he cannot understand how and what benefits they have why open your mouth rubbishing things you do not know. Ask and it will be explained to you.
This is what happened during the introduction of Cellular phones in ZW. If Econet did not waste money fighting unnecessary legal battles to operate advance technology like Celleluar, kutaura kuno Zim would have internet in each and every home. We could have even superseded the current levels of terrestrial phones.
Kana musingazive technology bvunzai tikuudzei. Zvenyu zvekungove suspicions of anything and everything asi muchida maPorofita enhema ndokusaka muri sure setsapfu
there is no law in Zw which forbides drones. Zim laws are very ancient and not keeping up with technology. Banning drones is like going back to the times we had Gvt refusing Econet to operate cellular phones. Now look at Econet, it is the biggest private employer in the country. You want us to go backward. No ! we shall not be lagging behind like tsapfu all the time. Drones are essential and advanced technology we must embrace. Kusaziva kufa veduwe.
Great drones will obliterate the obscene blue roof palace. Jong we shake shake. Pghq. Kg 6 HQ. CIO redbrick. Etc and all the criminals therein.
why would it be illegal? people have owned RC planes in Zimbabwe there were even clubs for that,if you drove along mutare rd there was even a club with a small runway for these expensive toys. the only thing of concern is the recording equipment on the drone but then again what does not record these days? your mobiles do so do dash cams in vehicles.
These drones are like toys and quite affordable as toys or as as surveillance equipment. Amazon and other courier services will be using these to drop parcels soon.What does the law say about operating drones in Zimbabwean skies? Thats what we need to know, in places like USA its perfectly legal to fly a drone on one’s private property up to a certain height and its illegal to fly drones over places like Niagra falls, so my guess is that in Zimbabwe it may be illegal just to own a radio controlled drone, let alone fly one over a residential area.
Solution?
Shoot them down.
Someone has to have gun that can reach the SPYING machine.
“It’s like walking into someone’s home and filming.”
Zvakaipa nhai?? Pane ngatiudzirawo Dr Amai.
ITS USED FOR aerial MAPPING,
Errrm… it still has cameras capturing footage of private citizens going about their business. Bet he’s a perving voyeur!
This drone is a toy,Model DJJ Phantom 2 Vision which costs just $1500.
It is just like a kite…and is remote controlled.