The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) Chief Executive Officer Captain Thuto Toise is at the centre of a controversy involving two former pilots as consultants within the regulator’s Flight Operations Department. This comes amid reported discontentment within the organisation about Toisi’s management style.
According to information obtained by News&All, the two consultants, who are also understood to be former line pilots, were initially appointed at a monthly fee of P90,000 each. Their contracts expired in July but were subsequently extended, with their remuneration reportedly increasing to P156,000 per month each.
The appointments are understood to be linked specifically to oversight work involving Air Botswana. Sources familiar with the arrangement say the consultants have been tasked with reviewing and updating the national carrier’s operational manuals, a function that falls within the regulator’s flight operations oversight responsibilities.
The engagements are notable because Botswana’s flight operations oversight system does not appear to have been under exceptional strain. Data published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) shows Botswana recorded an Effective Implementation score of 88.35 percent against a global average of 72.34 percent in the Aircraft Operations oversight area during its most recent assessment. The score is well above international averages and forms part of an oversight framework through which ICAO evaluates the effectiveness of national aviation regulators.
Information available to News&All indicates that the consultants are line pilots by profession. Sources say they are not flight operations inspectors or career aviation regulators.
According to information received by this publication, the consultants’ engagements do not have publicly known deliverables, timelines or performance targets. Sources further allege that the consultants have assumed a significant role within the department despite the presence of a substantive manager responsible for flight operations oversight.
It is alleged that, in carrying out their assignments, the largely “clueless” consultants continue to rely mainly on CAAB inspectors and technical personnel who are already employed within the department.
The arrangement has also drawn attention because of the apparent overlap between the consultants’ work and responsibilities already performed by the Flight Operations Department. Sources maintain that CAAB has historically reviewed Air Botswana manuals internally and that the department continues to possess the technical staff required to undertake such work.
Questions have also arisen regarding the structure of the consultancy arrangement. According to information received by this publication, the consultants’ engagements do not have publicly known deliverables, timelines or performance targets. Sources further allege that the consultants have assumed a significant role within the department despite the presence of a substantive manager responsible for flight operations oversight.
On August 31, News&All submitted a formal inquiry to CAAB seeking clarification on the appointments, their cost, procurement process, duration and purpose. This publication also sought information regarding the consultants’ qualifications and the operational needs that prompted their engagement. CAAB has not responded by the time of publication, despite being afforded two weeks.
