PREVIEW
The former president, who faces charges of money laundering and owning illegal firearms, will campaign for the opposition coalition ahead of general elections next month
The return of former President Ian Khama after three years of self-imposed exile, to face charges, including money laundering and owning illegal firearms, appears to be as much about electioneering as having his day in court.
Khama has been living in South Africa since November 2021, weeks after his homes were raided by security agents looking for unlicensed guns. He was then charged along with former spy chief Isaac Kgosi, former police chief Keabetswe Makgophe and former Director-General at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime Victor Paledi, but has refused to appear in court until now (AC Vol 62 No 22, Masisi and Khama step up the feud). Khama has always denied the charges and says they are part of a persecution campaign by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who he handpicked to succeed him in 2018.
Khama, who is next due in court on 23 September, has made it clear that he will use his return for electioneering ahead of general elections on 30 October, which many analysts expect to be the closest fought in over 50 years since independence. The return of the former president, who still commands a strong support base in the central region, should improve the chances of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and wider opposition (AC Vol 60 No 22, BDP ends Khama's fightback).
Khama’s BPF is part of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, a broad opposition coalition led by Duma Boko that expects to challenge the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, and which has accused the BDP of preparing the ground for massive electoral fraud (AC Vol 65 No 17,Ben-Menashe heads to Gaborone).
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