Clip Khama�s wings � Guma

Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday June 16, 2017 17:28

 

This was after it emerged that Khama used the Beechcraft King Air 350 for other duties other than for operations it was meant for.

During their initial appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Opelo said the aircraft was meant to help them move swiftly on their duties. “The aircraft was solely to carry out day-to-day routine activities of the management and perfectly carry the operations quite satisfactorily.”

“The activities include attending to animal problems, carrying equipment by veterinarians, assisting the workforce on the ground and emergencies such as fire outbreaks and accidents, which are attended on time and promptly. Thus the procurement and purchase of the aircraft was effectively productive,” Opelo added.

However, during re-submission yesterday, specially elected legislator Bogolo Kenewendo said they had established that the aircraft did more than that, including transportation of the minister and his officials, other ministers and was also used for BOT50 events as shown by its logbook.

Opelo maintained that they bought the aircraft so they could use it and did so only on official trips, even if it were not for their operations. He said the items marked BOT50 on the logbook were rehearsals for the aircraft to be flown over the stadium during the country’s silver jubilee celebrations.

Guma argued that it was wrong for the minister to use the aircraft on corporate trips instead of being used for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks as was initially intended. “This is totally wrong. What if all the ministries get planes to use on their trips? That is costly to the taxpayer. Shaw Kgathi heads a ministry with aircraft for its use, but we never hear of him using them for ministerial duties,” he said.

Guma said the whole situation looks untidy as it appears to some people like the President’s brother is treated differently from others. He said the situation should be dealt with immediately before it explodes. He pleaded with Opelo to rescue the minister and advise him accordingly.

Gaborone Bonnington South legislator Ndaba Gaolathe said it was worrisome that the aircraft was purchased using supplementary budget while the logbook does not show there was such an emergency. In explanation, Opelo said they decided they needed it only after the budget had been approved. He maintained that they needed the aircraft as they were at times inconvenienced when they needed the Botswana Defence Force to assist them with an aircraft for an emergency mission.