CAAB boss resigns

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 23, 2010 00:00

He would not shed light on his reasons for departure nor would he state what his last date in office will be, but insiders say he was not happy at what he called sabotage from government officials.

Mmegi understands that Belayneh was advocating for certain projects that were however resisted by some officers under the Ministry of Works and Transport and others who were transferred from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) that was dissolved to form the new CAAB.

The CAAB became operational last year although the Civil Aviation Authority Act that was amended in 2008 was initially passed by Parliament in 2004.

Last year, at least 800 employees of the old DCA joined CAAB. In an earlier interview with Mmegi Business Week last year Belaymneh said those employees who did not qualify for CAAB positions would be re-deployed to other government departments.

Insiders say the outgoing CEO had wanted to transform the country's airports for a more spacious and user friendly outlook.

The expansion of Sir Seretse Khama International Airpot is already at an advanced stage as the new terminal has now been opened to the public. Parliament meanwhile, recently approved a P180 million loan from Opec Fund for International Development (OFID) and Arab Bank for expansion of Kasane Aiport.

Another loan for the project was sourced from Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

The expansion of Maun and Francistown airports are also supposed to have commenced. Additional 19 airstrips will be expanded to boost the country's tourism industry and make it a transport hub. However, the slow pace at which the projects are going is said to have played a significant role in Belayneh's resignation. The CAAB owns airports while airlines such as Air Botswana rent the use of its facilities.