MBABANE – Questions have been raised over gover-nment’s move to negotiate with foreign airline companies, including Air Botswana, to service Swaziland.
The proposed deal was to possibly replace Swazi Airlink should the need arise following questions that have been raised on its safety.
According to media reports in Botswana, especially the Botswana Gazette online edition, the Tswanas have maintained ignorance on the developments.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Louis Malikongwa said he was not aware of the issue.
“We have not heard anything to that effect and the Swazi Government has not engaged us in talks over the matter. Maybe they are still in the process of coming to us,” Malikongwa said.
Mphi Tlhomelang, who is the Acting General Manager of Air Botswana, acknowledged she had heard the rumour, but there was no official communication, either from Swazi Airlink or the minis- try.
“I will have to get in touch with the ministry to confirm it. The Swazis have not yet come to us, or maybe it was a suggestion and they are still to make a proposal, but as Air Botswana, we are open to discussions,” she said.
Swazi Airlink is 51 per cent owned by the Swazi Government and South African Airlink owns 49 per cent. The reason to negotiate with the two airlines, according to the minister, has been necessitated by the ongoing probe into the operations of South African Airlink.
The questions about Dlamini’s statements come after he was quoted by this publication as having confirmed the ongoing talks, but refused to go into detail on the negotiations.
“We’re engaging Air Botswana and the South Africa Airways as possible alternative airlines to replace Swazi Airlink,” the minister said.
Following that the Tswanas have registered their ignorance on the matter, when the minister was called, his phone was unavailable on the MTN network and when the Principal Secretary Paul Nkambule was called, he said he could not comment on the matter.
His reasons were that if there was something being done the Civil Aviation Authority board would be the best to comment.
Nkambule said since government was in a marriage with Airlink, he did not think it would be right to talk about the matter without involving the company.
When South African Airways headquarters were called, this reporter was asked to leave a message which by the time of compiling this report, had not been returned.
Source:times.co.sz/
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