General Baduk's voice was like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, and instantly the awning became noisy again.
"What? The shell is imported from China?"
"It's not too surprising. We shouldn't be able to process such metal casings domestically."
"Kikwete is deliberately hiding it? I don't even know about it!"
"Damn! What Baduk said makes sense. Since the largest parts are imported, how can it be called independently produced?"
"It's really disappointing. Has Kikwete gone to any lengths to seek power? Despicable!"
"Although the casing is imported, the remaining parts are always produced and assembled by us, right? I think this is already a great improvement!"
"Bah! Since the shell can lie, who knows whether the other parts are real or fake!"
After General Baduk launched the "bombardment" against Kikwete, senior executives with conflicts of interest under the pergola began to criticize Kikwete's bad behavior, hoping to nail him directly to the pillar of shame. Then disappear!
On the contrary, the president and general sitting in front had indifferent eyes showing no expression, while Kikwete, who was standing on the stage, waved his hands unhurriedly, coughed slightly and said:
"anyway."
"Please give me a chance to defend myself!"
Hearing what Kikwit said, General Baduk stood there with a sneer on his face, while other senior officials who were furious and criticized also looked on with cold eyes, waiting for Kikwit's death struggle!
Under everyone's gaze, Kikwete glanced around, secretly memorizing the expressions on everyone's faces, and then smiled and said:
"Yes, as General Baduk said, I purchased the shell of the heavy mortar from China."
"But I don't think that's a problem!"
"I think everyone knows how much the rocket launchers and rocket launchers we purchased from the Soviet Union cost. Taking the RPG-7 rocket grenade as an example, each launch costs nearly two hundred dollars, and the launch tube costs five hundred dollars."
"But this weapon has a maximum range of only nine hundred meters. In most cases, it needs to fire from a position of two to three hundred meters."
"As for the power, it goes without saying. It is completely incomparable to our heavy mortars!"
"As for our heavy mortar, the price of purchasing the casing from China is only US$400. If it is assembled in our country, the total cost will not exceed US$420!"
“And at this price, our workers can still get some wages!”
"In other words, we only need four hundred dollars to obtain such a powerful weapon, and the subsequent production process can also promote economic development to a certain extent!"
"I can even assert that if all our methods are imported and produced in the form of parts."
"That can greatly promote the development of our country's economy!"
At this moment, hearing Kikwete's passionate voice, the senior executives present were stunned for a moment, and many nodded slightly in approval, because indeed, as Kikwete said, doing so would save foreign exchange no matter what!
Even if it is true to what Kikwete said, it will really promote the national economy. After all, the military industry is also an industry, and industry naturally needs workers!
Afterwards, seeing that the expressions of most of the senior executives softened, Kikwete continued to smile and said:
"In addition to this, the more important point is that we have finally taken the first step in the military industry, isn't it everyone?"
"Isn't it a great and important step to go from being able to produce almost no weapons to now being able to produce a powerful tactical-grade weapon?"
"I believe that in the near future, we will be able to purchase some equipment to produce similar shells and have the industrial capabilities to fully manufacture similar weapons!"
"And as long as we advance step by step like this, sooner or later, we will definitely create our own cannons, tanks, and even airplanes!"
"But everything stems from the first step taken today, and you are the witnesses!"
"This is also the experience I learned when I was studying in China. Only when you take the first step can you take the second and third steps!"
"But if you stay still, nothing will happen!"
This time, as soon as Kikwete finished speaking, for this African country that had just ended the war and was still in the upward stage, and for these senior officials who still had some enterprising spirit, this was also their pursuit and goal, and there was thunderous applause in an instant!
Because they agree with Kikwete’s words!
General Baduk's face became increasingly ugly, and after the applause gradually died down, Kikwit looked at him and said with a smile:
"General Bardock, you are right."
"Although the shell of the heavy mortar is indeed purchased from China, I don't think this is a shameful secret that cannot be told."
"In fact, I'm going to mention that later and thank you for saying it for me in advance."
"Let me give you an example. Could it be that a body as strong as yours was created by one meal? No, no, no! Of course not! It was created by years of eating."
"The same is true for industry. We can't achieve it overnight, just like although I understand that nuclear weapons are the biggest weapon."
"But do you think it's realistic for us to build nuclear weapons now?"
As soon as Kikwete finished speaking, the audience burst into laughter because Kikwete emphasized the word "strong", which was obviously alluding to General Badduk's obese figure with a waistline equal to his height.
"Kikwit! You!"
Faced with Kikwete's taunt, General Baduk subconsciously touched the gun bag on his waist, and then realized that he had already disarmed as required when entering the venue!
"Quiet!"
At the same time, the voice of the president sitting in the middle came. Even with dark skin, you could see that General Badduk's face suddenly changed color, and the anger and murderous intent were boiling in his eyes!
"Start testing!"
Then the president said this calmly, and Kikwit nodded and said to the guard next to him:
"let's start!"
A moment later, along with the sound of Kikwit's countdown, a loud noise was heard, and the gas tank 500 meters away turned into a black shadow and rose into the sky with fire and smoke, flying towards the target location one kilometer away.
There, there are also wooden piles that serve as targets, as well as dilapidated cars, trucks, etc.
"boom!"
With a loud noise, the entire landing point was in a mess, and under the awning, many senior officials had already stood up with telescopes, looking at the target nearly two kilometers away.
"Oh my God! It's so scary!"
"Hahaha, you really didn't disappoint me. Such a big size should have such power!"
"This is already a heavy weapon, the kind that can determine victory or defeat on the battlefield!"
“I have to say, Kikwete has a lot of vision!”
"Hey, with this kind of weapon, it will be much easier to deal with those guerrilla armed forces!"
Accompanied by the excited voices of many high-level discussions, the president and general sitting there looked at the scene of destruction in the distance, and smiles finally appeared on their faces.
Kikwete also coughed very appropriately. After everyone's attention was focused on him, he respectfully said to the president:
"As Tanzania's first indigenously produced weapon."
"I think it should be named by Mr. President!"
"And this will mark that our military industry in Tanzania has entered a new historical stage!"
As soon as these words came out, the face of General Baduk next to him was completely changed!
