15 Nov 2023

Botswana’s efforts to promote civil aviation as a catalyst for economic empowerment and global connectivity were finally bearing fruits.

“Over the past few years, the government of Botswana has embarked on several development projects in the transportation sector, civil aviation included. 

As we speak, projects are underway to modernise civil aviation infrastructure across the nation. 

These include upgrading air navigation aids, certification of international aerodromes and process re-engineering within CAAB,” said Transport and Public Works permanent secretary, Mr Kgakgamalo Ketshajwang, at the opening session of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) hosted Civil Aviation Master Plans (CAMP) training organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and sponsored by China.

He said the ministry was confident that the training would empower its people to change perspectives and approaches to aviation policy development, implementing civil aviation master plans and harmonising them with future national development plans.

Botswana has been making strides in aviation. 

From receiving larger aircraft to improving scores on audits done by the ICAO, the country is steadily progressing, said Mr Ketshajwang.

“In the last ICAO audit in May 2018, Botswana scored 64 per cent of the Effective Implementation. 

In June 2022, when they came for the follow-up mission, we scored 80.1 per cent, an improvement of 16 per cent,” said Mr Ketshajwang and added that the CAMP training would improve the scores.

ICAO regional representative, Ms Chinga Mazhetese, on behalf of the organisation’s regional director, said the excellent coordination and arrangement demonstrated by Botswana to facilitate the CAMP course showed commitment to regional and international cooperation as well as enhancing aviation systems regionally. 

“The goal of this course is to provide senior and middle managers of states’ civil aviation authorities with the competencies requirement to develop, implement, and update a CAMP including the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19,” said Ms Mazhetese. 

The course, which started on Monday and ends tomorrow, has guthered aviation professionals at Gaborone’s Travel Lodge for the CAMP training course, through which the ICAO advocates for the alignment of aviation sectors with national economic development plans and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

It is organised for the first time in Botswana and for the fourth time in the region and participants were therefore urged to take full advantage of the opportunity. ENDS