An investigation into the operations and procurement practices at Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone), led by suspended senior officers of the country's Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), has revealed concerns about aviation safety and potential corruption, according to reports by the Botswana Guardian and Sunday Standard newspapers.
In a declaration filed last week in the Lobatse division of the Botswana High Court, seen by the Botswana Guardian, former DIS legal director Pulane Kgoadi and principal intelligence officer Desmond Setlhabi claimed Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi had covertly assigned them to investigate their boss, DIS Director General Peter Magosi, over allegations of drug trafficking and illicit tobacco smuggling. During the investigations, the focus turned to Air Botswana's operations and procurement practices, exposing broader concerns within the organisation.
Allegations include non-compliance with aviation standards, lack of proper qualifications among staff, and questionable procurement processes for previously owned aircraft without the necessary inspections. The suspended officers alleged that their removal from the investigation was abrupt and linked to their findings, which they claimed included suspicions of corruption and direct conversations between Magosi and a UK agent regarding aircraft procurement.
Air Botswana CEO Lulu Ratsebotsa declined to comment. "Air Botswana will not be making any comment in this regard especially regarding any alleged cases. The business of Air Botswana remains the business of Air Botswana," she informed ch-aviation.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) was not immediately available for comment.
On September 6, the Botswana Guardian first published the allegations and questioned the airworthiness of Air Botswana's recently delivered E175, A2-ABE (msn 17000327). It suggested the airline was deceived into paying BWP300 million pula (USD22.5 million) for an "unairworthy aircraft" and that the security services had improperly influenced the purchase.
On the same day, Air Botswana strongly denied these claims, labelling the reporting as "false and irresponsible". The airline said it had followed the Public Procurement Act of 2021 when purchasing three Embraer aircraft - one E175 and two E145s. It stated that the E175 was certified as airworthy and dismissed claims about its safety as "malicious lies." Air Botswana clarified that payments for the aircraft were made directly by the government, with no funds transferred to any third-party agent. It also rejected allegations of improper influence from Magosi. Additionally, the airline denied reports that key executives had been detained or confessed to receiving recommendations from Magosi, emphasising that all contract approvals were handled solely by Ratsebotsa.
On September 12, CAAB issued a statement assuring the public that it was "keeping a close eye on the airline's re-fleeting exercise to ensure that safety is maintained". It confirmed that a CAAB airworthiness inspector had examined A2-ABE in the Netherlands. The aircraft was registered in Botswana on August 22, followed by an airworthiness certificate on August 23. "By doing so, CAAB was confirming the aircraft's serviceability," it confirmed.
The authority said the aircraft would be ready to enter service as soon as the remaining requirements for it to be placed on Air Botswana's operating specifications (OpsSpecs) are completed. This includes the replacement of a temperature probe that was found to be defective when the aircraft made a technical stop in Kenya when it was ferried to Botswana on August 28. According to CAAB, Air Botswana has an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for its E175, allowing it to defer defects in accordance with this list.
Meanwhile, the first of Air Botswana's E145s is currently being ferried to Gaborone, according to ADS-B data. 2-BOTS (msn 14501022) departed Colombo International, Sri Lanka, on September 18 and routed via Gan Island (Maldives), Mahé (Seychelles), Pemba, MZ (Mozambique) and Lusaka (Zambia), to arrive at Windhoek Eros (Namibia) on September 19. It was previously registered as PK-OKE with Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park and was previously operated by Airfast Indonesia, according to ch-aviation research.
