Maun Airport Study Provokes Hot Debate

December 2, 2003
Republic of Botswana, Botswana

Maun Airport Study Provokes Hot Debate

A feasibility study, which proposes the expansion or relocation of the Maun
Airport recently provoked a heated debate among the North West District
councillors. Maun Airport is the busiest in Botswana because of tourism
industry. Councillors made their views known during a meeting where the
report was presented for their consideration. 

Those who supported the idea of a new airport said it would be big enough to
accommodate bigger planes such as 747 jet airliners. Others supported the
option of expanding the existing airport. 

Those supporting a new site said it would address the problem of continuous
expansion at the airport which was built some six years ago. 

They said expansion and some developments were carried out in 1996 so it was
high time a new site is found. They also argued that if the existing airport
was expanded again that could impact negatively on people and students
staying near it. 

They argued that the airport was already within the village. 

Councillors opposing the relocation option argued that it would result in
the abandonment of the existing infrastructure. They said the exercise would
be more expensive than expanding the existing airport. 

They also argued that the relocation would affect people. However,
councillors adopted the report after a long debate and urged the Civil
Aviation department to consult affected people. 


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