Air Botswana privatisation grounded for now

BOTSWANA’S MINISTRY of Works and Transport has finally decided to decline South African Airlink’s proposal for the privatisation of Air Botswana. “After thorough evaluation, Cabinet found that the proposal did not adequately meet Botswana’s air transportation requirements,” ministry secretary GN Thipe said in a statement. While committed to the eventual privatisation of Air Botswana, Thipe said Airlink’s proposal failed to support the government’s wider objectives for the transport and tourism sectors. An interim arrangement to support the revitalisation and restructuring of Air Botswana is to be implemented, according to Thipe, and this will be followed by renewed efforts to attract a strategic equity partner.