21 Jun 2017

A so-called expose produced by the “INK Centre of Investigative Journalism,” which appeared in this week’s (18/6/17) Sunday Standard newspaper claims, without producing any fresh evidence, that government “has built a wall of secrecy around to hide the diversion of public resources into developing Khama’s private property.”

We frankly find this assertion rather curious given the fact that the same investigators seem to a greater extent to rely on past (albeit cherry picked) government statements dating back to September 2013 about the nature of the Botswana Defence Force’s (BDF) construction and maintenance of the airstrip and helipad at Mosu, statements this office continues to stand behind.

Most recently, on 17 March 2017, this office, in response to an INK Centre questionnaire, communicated the following (full text):

“As we have consistently noted in previous occasions when this issue has come up, neither the BDF nor the Department of Buildings and Engineering Services or any other government agencies have ever been involved in the construction or renovation of the President’s private residence in Mosu.

“Such activities as the BDF have been engaged have been the construction and maintenance of the airstrip (outside of the compound) and helipad (within the fence) and associated facilities. In this respect, the only significant recent activity involved renovation of the helipad, which was suspended due to rains but will resume.

“As this office communicated to the Sunday Standard on the 17^th of September 2013 (and subsequently copied to other local media):

“It is indeed true that the BDF is constructing a landing strip near Mosu for His Excellency the President. The construction of this airstrip is to facilitate the air movements of His Excellency the President. As part of the rights and privileges of the President of the Republic of Botswana his travel and security are provided by the state (falling under the BDF, DIS and BPS). It is not the first time that the BDF has constructed airstrips and helipads for our various incumbent Presidents to support their air movements.”

“At the time we also further informed the Sunday Standard that:

“In case of Mosu airstrip this is also going to form part of the Makgadikgadi Pans Management Plan and will be used by both tourists and official aircraft that is operating in that area as is envisaged to be registered with CAAB.”

“Further to the above we can confirm that the airstrip has been registered with CAAB, while its registration with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) is still being processed.

“As long as His Excellency remains in office it will continue to be managed by the BDF as part of its strategic support of the President, but will come under civilian authority thereafter.”

Further to the above, we would wish to remind the public that the issue of “construction of an airfield at Mosu by Botswana Defence Force” was extensively addressed during a November 2013 “Minister’s Question Time in Parliament,“ which included detailing the project’s costs and cost savings, as well as safety and security benefits, in the context of the BDF’s mandate to provide the President with air transport.

During the discussion in Parliament it was also observed that it was not the first time such construction had taken place as airstrips and/or helipads had been constructed at or near the farms and/or private residences of all previous Presidents.

From: Dr. Jeff Ramsay for Government Communications

REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA - OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT