04 Dec 2018

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, says construction of Mosu airstrip started in 2012 and was completed in 2017, the purpose of which was to facilitate air movements of the former president, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Answering a question in Parliament on December 3, Minister Kgathi said as part of the rights and privileges accorded to the sitting president, his travel and security were provided by the state.

He said, amongst many other issues around presidential movements, there were two key issues to take into consideration, the first one being the travel time, adding that it was paramount to make the sitting president’s transit as quick as possible to ensure that there was little time wasted during travel.

The second issue, he said, hinged on safety and security. The fewer stopovers, the less the opportunities for security compromise during change of transportation modes, he said.

He, however, told Parliament that the cost of the project was P6 427 494.68 and that the airstrip was on the tribal land allocated to Lt. Gen. Dr Khama.

He said the intention was to provide safe air transport access for the sitting president which had been found to be frequent to his residence in Mosu.

The Mosu project was put-up with the consent of the former president.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, had asked the minister on conditions for constructing an airstrip in Mosu by BDF, at or near the private residence of the former president.

He had also asked when the airstrip was constructed and the purpose it was intended for, whether the airstrip was on the former president’s land. He also wanted to know whether the airstrip was state or privately owned by the former president.

Mr Keorapetse further wanted to know whether it was the intention of the BDF and the state to ultimately give an asset of that exorbitant amount to its former commander in chief and the role of the former president in the decision to construct the airstrip. ENDS