12 Feb 2020

The incurred costs of Mosu airstrip on completion in 2018 were set at P6,4 million, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi told Parliament.

Answering a question from Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South, Mr Christian Greeff, the minister said the cost of the project on completion was less than the initial estimate of P10 million in 2013.

He said this was a result of cost saving measures by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) which opted to utilise available earth moving equipment instead of outsourcing.

Minister Mmusi stated that the airstrip, which is on a land adjacent to the fenced tribal land allocated to the former President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, has had no maintenance costs since its construction that could be attributed to the BDF.

He also indicated that any other maintenance that might have been undertaken at the airstrip could be highlighted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

MP Greeff had asked the minister to reconcile the responses submitted by his predecessor and the Ministry of Transport and Communications in 2013 and 2018, regarding the status of Mosu airstrip.

He also wanted the minister to establish the construction costs of the airstrip, its maintenance cost since its inception and on whose land the said airstrip was.

The minister was also to state who incurred the above costs. ENDS