Masisi escaped BDF aircraft crash that killed three soldiers

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) aircraft that crashed and killed three army officers on board last week Friday was scheduled to transport Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi to Tsabong, the government has confirmed. Masisi was scheduled to attend a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) youth league congress that was held in Tsabong over the weekend. The Tsabong youth congress was officially opened by President Ian Khama. It is not clear why Khama did not travel with Masisi. Details indicating thatMasisi was bound to travel in the aircraft that crashed emerged last week Friday but were scanty. It is understood that the army and the BDP leadership were trying to piece together information that could help the nation unravel the circumstances that led to the aircraft crashing before reaching Gaborone from Thebephatswa airbase. On Monday Government spokesperson Jeff Ramsay confirmed that “I  have been receiving a number of enquiries this afternoon from members of the press seeking to confirm whether the BDF Casa 212-300 aircraft that crashed last week had been scheduled to carry His Honour to Tsabong. I can confirm that this was indeed the case.” Last week Friday, BDF Director of Protocol and Public Affairs Teko Dikole said in a statement that “a Botswana Defence Force CASA 212 aircraft left Thebephatswa Air Base last evening has crashed in the general area of the Thebephatswa and three fatalities have been confirmed.” He said investigations to determine the cause of accident are currently ongoing. Dikole said the names of the deceased will be withheld until their next of kin have been informed. Of late Masisi has been using BDF aircrafts to fly locally.  There is an allegation that the Vice President has not been allowed to use the presidential jet ÔÇô and during the just ended African Union Summit he was seen boarding Ethiopian Airline.