In an unexpected turn of events, a leaked report to the President’s Permanent Secretary has rubbished claims by the previous administration that Ian Khama’s retirement home at Mosu was ever a strategic area for an official airstrip built on public funds. The damning report by the Ministry of Transport now suggests that the Khama administration knowingly wasted millions of Pula to serve his private interests.
Report suggests why govt is unable to transfer airstrip to CAAB as undertaken by Khama.
TEFO PHEAGE
In an unexpected turn of events, a leaked report to the President’s Permanent Secretary has rubbished claims by the previous administration that Ian Khama’s retirement home at Mosu was ever a strategic area for an official airstrip built on public funds. The damning report by the Ministry of Transport now suggests that the Khama administration knowingly wasted millions of Pula to serve his private interests.
In a report to Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi, the Ministry of Transport and Communications revealed that the Mosu airstrip is not a strategic area and therefore not a priority, as there exists an airstrip in Orapa which is the primary tourism gateway, as well as being convenient to those who have been using it for many years.
The report to the PsP was implemented as part of the requirements to fulfill the promise to the nation that once Khama vacated the office of president, the airstrip will be transferred and registered under the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) assert register. The promise was that state and civilian aircrafts will only be allowed on the airstrip after President Ian Khama ceases to hold office and upon compliance with CAAB formalities.
Morupisi confirmed that he has received a report from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and further confirmed that the government “has perhaps been reluctant to act swiftly on seizure of the airstrip from Khama as it has been realized recently that the airstrip is not as strategic as we previously believed.”
He confirmed the contents of the report that, “the report says there is the Orapa airstrip situated 85 Km away from Mosu airstrip that has been used but this does not mean we are not going to seize the airstrip.” Orapa airstrip is owned by Debswana and landing permission must be obtained from Debswana at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
Asked on the way forward, Morupisi said “I am yet to act on this report and advise accordingly.” It has been six months since Khama left office. The Ministry of Transport and Communications which drafted the report has been compelled to maintain the airstrip as a public resource, although it is not their asset.
The critical report by the Ministry is a slap in the face for the government and in particular the past administration which had classified the Botswana Defence Force built airstrip as a “strategic area” which was “also going to form part of the Makgadikgadi Pans Management Plan and will be used by both tourists and official aircraft that is (sic) operating in that area as is envisaged to be registered with CAAB.”
In several written responses to the media, the office of the president and CAAB classified the area as ‘very strategic’. The damning report by the Ministry now suggests that the government knowingly wasted millions of Pula to serve private interests. The airstrip was built by the BDF which had to divert over and above P3 million from its Maintenance budget towards the developments. In 2013 Parliament was called upon to approve the additional project budget, which it did.
The justification for the construction of this airstrip was said to be to facilitate the air movements of Khama and was deemed to be part of his rights and privileges as his travel and security are provided by the State.
The government ‘s recent position on Mosu does not come as a surprise to some. In his maiden press conference, President Mokgweetsi Masisi jokingly described Mosu as “some dusty village popularized by the press for what,” he “doesn’t understand.” He made the remark in response to a media question on Khama’s retirement home.
Mosu is home to the Makgakgadi pans and close to Lekhubu Island – one of the main tourists’ attraction sites in Botswana. The historic Mmakgama ruins – a cultural heritage site characterized by a coursed stone enclosure which is believed to be where Khama III was born – stands out in public appeal. There is also the perennial Unikae Spring and Kaitshe escarpment, a multi-cultural site overlooking the southernmost edges of the magnificent Sowa Pan. The village is synonymous with Khama, who has popularised it as his retirement home.
In July, 2017 the Minister of Transport and Communications Kitso Mokaila informed Parliament that government will construct a 25 kilometre road to the village. “The awarded cost for design and construction supervision is P12, 897,981.60 and the estimated budget for construction is P228, 420,764.39,” revealed Mokaila.
Mokaila, who was answering a question from the MP for Boteti West Sethomo Lelatisitswe, said the design of the road has been completed and construction was expected to commence in March 2018 and end in August 2019.
Khama retired a month after the road’s commencement date. The road was intended to be constructed after Khama had informed the Mosu residents that the road’s construction was going to be difficult as the road has low usage but promised the village community that he would try to ensure it would be completed. This, he said, was a response to the villages outcry for the need of a road in their area.