Former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, will contest an arrest warrant issued by a court for the possession of illegal firearms. This is according to his Lawyer.
The arrest warrant was issued on Friday by Gaborone’s regional magistrate following Mr. Khama’s failure to appear for trial earlier this year.
The former president, who led Botswana from 2008 to 2018, left the country last year for neighbouring South Africa after falling out with his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Mr. Khama has vehemently denied the charges, saying they are part of a political conspiracy due to his opposition to President Masisi.
The 69-year-old faces 14 charges dating back to 2016, among them allegations of money laundering and handling stolen property, but the warrant is only for the possession of five illegal firearms.
The magistrate who issued the arrest warrant, Mareledi Dipate, said Khama should be caught immediately and sent to the Broadhurst Magistrate’s Court.
A lawyer representing the previous leader, Victor Ramalepa, informed the local newspaper Mmegi that they will appeal the ruling, but did not elaborate.
Khama is charged alongside Isaac Kgosi, the former chief of intelligence and police services, Keabetswe Makgophe, the suspended police commissioner, and Victor Paledi, a former deputy permanent secretary in the Youth, Gender, Sport, and Culture Ministry.
Khama has vehemently denied the charges, saying they are part of a political conspiracy due to his opposition to the ruling party.
Khama was Botswana’s fourth president and the son of the country’s first president, Seretse Khama.
Khama entered politics after serving as head of the Botswana Defence Force, serving as vice president from 1998 to 2008 before succeeding Festus Mogae as president in 2008.
In the 2009 elections, Khama was re-elected. He was re-elected in October 2014, and he left office four years later after serving two five-year terms.
