BOTSWANA continues to negotiate with Dublin-based consultants International Development Ireland Ltd (IDI) to take over a three-year contract to manage Air Botswana. This is despite an April 1 deadline having passed without the signing of a contract.

Charles Keikotlhae, spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Works and Transport, confirmed a Botswanan news report that the country’s cabinet had ordered the ministry to go back and clarify certain issues with IDI, but did not elucidate. IDI was the reserve bidder after Comair in last year’s tender process for Air Botswana’s management contract. Comair withdrew from the process after it disagreed with the Botswanan government over performance and financial guarantees.