Wilderness Holdings made a hasty retreat on Friday afternoon from their expression of interest for the acquisition of national airliner Air Botswana, following a public outburst and criticism over the involvement of President Ian Khama in the deal. A leaked Presidential Directive CAB 12 (A) 2017 made headlines midweek showing that Khama had ordered Cabinet to deliver the national airline to Wilderness Holdings on a silver platter, in a controversial partnership despite there being other interested potential investors. In a press statement released on Friday, the Botswana and Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company said they have decided to not pursue the matter any further. "The Company has been informed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications that the Government of Botswana wishes to enter into discussions with the Company regarding this matter. However, after careful deliberation, the Company has decided to not pursue the matter any further. Accordingly, the Company has withdrawn its Expression of Interest and has advised the Government of its decision,” reads part of the statement. The withdrawal is said to come due to pressure from shareholders who felt that negative publicity regarding the acquisition was harming the company’s reputation and diluting their shares. On Wednesday, the…