Africa-Press – Botswana. President Duma Boko departed from Botswana on 28 December for an 11-day private trip to South Africa, with an expected return on 7 January.
The official reasons for the visit have not been disclosed, though sources close to the presidency say the president intends to celebrate his birthday on 31 December in Cape Town.
According to insider reports, the celebration will be a private affair attended by close friends and family, following a similar pattern to last year’s
celebrations.
Tuesday Grill has also learnt that Boko plans to spend time visiting his maternal family in the Eastern Cape, highlighting
the personal nature of the trip.
It is understood that Boko has celebrated his birthday in Cape Town even prior to becoming the president of Botswana.
The mode of transport for the president’s journey has not been officially confirmed.
Last month, the office of the president disclosed that the presidential jet, OK-1, a Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express XRS, was undergoing maintenance, with no specific return date provided, although sources told this publication they expected it to be back in service by early January.
This left the presidency with no option but to charter private aircraft.
Aviation sources indicate that the only other state-owned jet capable of flying to Cape Town is the Pilatus PC-24 (DS1).
Meanwhile, observers have noted that a GLEX Bombardier Global Express, similar in model to OK-1, departed Gaborone’s Sir Seretse Khama International Airport for Cape Town on
28 December.
The office of the president has not communicated whether the presidential jet has returned to service.
Analysts suggest that measures may have been taken to keep the flight off publicly accessible flight tracking platforms, in line with security protocols, after an earlier incident where civilians monitored the president’s movements online.
Insiders say the trip’s details have been kept limited following an earlier private visit this month, which reportedly cost between
US$2.4 million and US$2.8 million for aircraft services.
Protocol dictates that all presidential travel, including costs, is coordinated and financed by the Botswana Defence Force.
Earlier this month, press secretary Emang Mutapati was quoted by the Botswana
Gazette, explaining that the president’s private trips involve minimal entourage, typically limited to his private secretary and security personnel.
Bokhutlo further noted: “The president has been working tirelessly and has only taken less than 20 days of private time the whole year.”
Despite assurances of privacy and security, the president’s travel has drawn criticism from opposition politicians.
Tswapong South member of parliament Kesitegile Gobotswang of the Botswana Congress Party questioned the transparency of the trips, stating: “We cannot have a president who travels without disclosing where he is going. He must understand that he is now state property, and the government takes care of him. This is the second private trip in a single month. It is not acceptable.” – Tuesday Grill
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