Selebi Phikwe cargo airport in limbo

A proposed multi billion Pula cargo airport in Selebi Phikwe, branded the Mophane Cargo International Airport (MCIA) and led by local firm 123 Dimensions, is facing mounting uncertainty after repeated delays in its launch.Initially touted as a transformative project expected to create up to 15,000 jobs, the development has yet to break ground. A planned ground breaking ceremony in January 2026 was missed, with the milestone later deferred to March 2028, according to briefings to the Selebi Phikwe Town Council.The shifting timelines have cast doubt over the project’s viability, with stakeholders concerned that external developments could overtake the initiative.MCIA’s blueprint envisions a 1,200 hectare facility anchored by a 4,500 metre runway, a dedicated cargo terminal, MRO facilities, and modern passenger amenities. The project is marketed as positioning Botswana as a strategic hub in the African air cargo market, linking trade corridors across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.Yet parliamentary exchanges this week underscored unresolved issues. Selebi Phikwe East MP Kgoberego Nkawana pressed for clarity, while Assistant Minister Noah Salakae confirmed that key prerequisites remain unmet.Chief among them is compensation exceeding P500,000 owed to two farmers affected by land acquisition, delaying access to the site.Salakae further noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has acquired adjoining land to expand the existing Selebi Phikwe Airport, with the proposed cargo hub framed as an upgrade rather than a purchase.However, detailed master plans, commercial proposals, and an operating model from the developer are still outstanding. Employment projections remain uncertain, with Salakae estimating around 1,000 jobs during construction and a few hundred in operations, subject to final plans.Taken together, missed milestones, shifting timelines, and unresolved compensation point to a project still in its formative stages despite its ambitious scale. While MCIA continues to be framed as a potential game changer for Botswana’s logistics and aviation sectors, its immediate future appears clouded by execution risks.

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Selebi Phikwe cargo airport in limbo