12 Jul 2017

Minister Shaw Kgathi of Defence, Justice and Security has told parliament that his ministry is not aware of any plan to engage companies and/or directors to handle the purchase and sale of the aircrafts from the Swedish government as there is no agreement or procurement that has been concluded in this respect.

Thus, he said he is not in a position to explain the purchase of the Gripen aircraft or any other defence equipment with the Swedish government as the BDF is still in the process of considering options for a fighter aircraft that will meet its needs in terms of the design philosophy of the aircraft, multi-role capability, technical superiority and interoperability.

He confirmed though that the Gripen aircraft is one of the many platforms under consideration; noting that others include the Russian Yak 130 and Mig 29, the Korean T/FA 50, the French Mirage 2000-5, the American F16 and the Brazilian Super Tucano.

Minister Kgathi said regarding the need or otherwise of a third party in the procurement, it has to be understood that the BDF has the competence and technical expertise to define their requirements and execute procurement without the assistance of agents commonly known as middlemen.

Mr Kgathi thus urged MPs to desist from pre-empting defence procurement processes outcomes.

He said also that the issue of possible escalation of arms race is an irrelevant theoretical approach to the national defence analysis; explaining that procurement of military equipment is done for the purposes of military protection of a particular country for the purpose of which the military is established.

Further, military procurement is a sovereign responsibility of a government meant to address territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, he pointed out.

The minister clarified that Botswana’s defence posture is not to threaten its neighbours but to maintain the same relative combat power the country has had over the years.

He explained that Botswana has very strong cordial political, social, cultural and economic bonds with all neighbouring countries saying the country is not a country on a warpath, but one that is responsible in trying to secure its peace.

He said, likewise Botswana’ security interests are well served when its neighbours have secure competent defence forces.

MP Dithapelo Keorapetse of Selebi Phikwe West had asked the minister to explain “the intended purchase of Gripen JAS 39 C/D sub-frames by the BDF” and to also state companies and their directors which will be handling the purchase and sale contracts and the negotiations as well as delivery between the BDF and the Swedish government.

He had also wanted to know the percentage commission that the BDF is prepared to pay as a management fee or successful contract negotiation or delivery fee to such a company in Botswana.

Mr Keorapetse further asked what studies had been done on the negative impact of such a purchase on regional security and possible escalation of an arms race. ENDs