Air Botswana has firmly rejected allegations of misconduct surrounding its recent E175 aircraft purchase, labelling claims by the Botswana Guardian as “false and irresponsible.”
The publication reported that the airline was duped by a third-party broker into purchasing an unairworthy aircraft for BWP300 million.
Air Botswana dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the aircraft, which arrived on August 28, had been certified as airworthy and would commence operations after crew training.
The airline maintained, “All assertions negating its airworthiness and suggesting that it is unsafe to fly are malicious lies which must be ignored.”
The state-owned airline also denied any misuse of funds, clarifying that all payments were made directly by the government in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2021.
Air Botswana stressed that no money had been transferred to any third-party agent, adding that “Funds for each transaction are disbursed to Air Botswana by the shareholder to pay third parties only when they become due.”
The airline refuted allegations of improper influence by Botswana’s Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), stating, “No such influence was received nor solicited” regarding the aircraft purchases.
Addressing further claims, Air Botswana denied accusations that General Manager Lulu Ratsebotsa and Director Legal Services Moyombuya Ngubula had been detained in connection to the transaction.
Ratsebotsa also reiterated that the aircraft purchase price was USD9.5 million, with all transactions handled transparently.
She assured that the E175 was inspected by Air Botswana engineers at multiple stopovers, with thorough consultations from experts, including the Botswana Defense Force and Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), ensuring its airworthiness.
