15 Sep 2020

Government, through the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), plans to relocate Tsabong airfield, says Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, Mr Segokgo said CAAB submitted a proposal for funding under NDP 11, but could not be funded due to economic constraints.

He said the relocation was due to limitations for future expansions, adding that the project could not be implemented due to the 2010 economic meltdown.

 Minister Segokgo stated that the design of Tsabong airfield was a combined project with the design of Hukuntsi airfield, which was done at a cost of over P1.4 million and completed in 2011.

He said a visibility study was carried out as part of the design project that was completed in 2011.

The request, he said, proposed two sites both in the proximity of the existing  Tsabong airstrip, with one of them being the old stadium site that was found unsuitable as it encroached into the landing/departure flight path of the existing airstrip. Mr Segokgo thus said the proposal was declined by the CAAB inspectors in terms of the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2012.

 He said the proposed location was cleared for construction of sports complex as proposed.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks, had asked the minister if he was aware of an airfield plot at Logaganeng south of Tsabong, which was allocated to CAAB and also to state the cost of the design. ENDS