24 Oct 2016

The Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Kitso Mokaila has implored key players in the aviation sector to ensure the industry reached its optimum capacity to aid the country in economic diversification.
Addressing stakeholders at an Aviation Pitso in Maun recently, Minister Mokaila said the aviation industry had the potential to take the country to the next level.
“May we use this industry as a launch pad for meaningful and strategic developments characterised by visible job creation as our nation continues to face rising levels of  unemployment,” he said.
Mr Mokaila also encouraged the stakeholders to make the Aviation Pitso beneficial by discussing issues “without fear or favour.”
However, the minister said it was imperative to point out challenges without blaming one another as stakeholders since that would not lead to progress.
“May I remind you that the past couple of pitsos have seen us dragging our feet not knowing what the future holds for the industry due to the Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) which had the potential to drag back the achievements that we made over the past 50 years.”
The SSCs, he said devastated the aviation industry since failure to resolve them would attracta ban from the European Union or blacklisting.
The minister encouraged the aviation players to shift and focus on the business opportunities that aviation had  to offer since they survived the safety concern situation.
Vision 2036 document, he said emphasised that Botswana should be a high income country, calling on the aviation industry to ensure the country attained that dream.
 Regarding concerns raised in the last Aviation Pitso, Mr Mokaila said he would continue to look into the Civil Aviation Act with a view to check if it had sections that somehow hampered the promotion of private sector in civil aviation.
Mr Mokaila also noted that the year 2016 was special for Botswana since the nation celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Independence whereas the aviation industry celebrated the greatest achievement locally as its 97 years of existence and even achievements globally.
He observed that the aviation industry had contributed to infrastructural development and had four international airports locally to date.
In his welcome remarks, Batawana representative Kgosi Bringle Dithapo said the aviation industry contributed immensely to the economy of Maun and Botswana as a whole.
Kgosi Dithapo observed that world economies were dependable on the aviation industry noting that some state economies relied on aviation.
He therefore highlighted the necessity to tackle all challenges which hindered smooth operation of the aviation industry. ENDS