Botswana court upholds arrest warrant for ex-president Ian Khama

A Botswana court on Friday dismissed an application by former President Ian Khama to have an arrest warrant against him struck down.

The warrant was issued by a regional magistrate in late December after Khama, who is believed to be living in South Africa since November 2021, failed to turn up in court to answer charges laid against him in April.

The charges include unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretense among others.

The high court in Gaborone ruled that Khama’s application failed to meet the requirements for the warrant to be set aside or delayed, and said he also failed to justify why the matter should be treated as urgent.

His lawyer said Khama has not yet made a decision on appealing the judgement.

Khama has missed court appearances since he was charged in April, saying he feared for his life in Botswana.

He has been in a protracted feud with his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi which resulted in him quitting the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in 2019.

In other news – Warrant of Arrest for former Botswana President Ian Seretse Khama

The government of Botswana has issued a warrant of arrest for its former President Ian Seretse Khama. In a statement issued on 29 December 2022, the Botswana Government accused Ian Khama of unlawful possession of firearms in a case that back dates to 2016.

Following the fallout, with his predecessor, Dr Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, Ian Khama has been a fugitive in South Africa alleging political persecution back home. Learn More