FORMER Botswana president Ian Khama made his first court appearance on Friday after returning from three years in exile to face charges of illegal firearm possession and receiving stolen property. The court had previously issued two arrest warrants against Khama for failing to respond to the charges in April 2022. These warrants were suspended during Friday’s hearing.
Khama, who has been in exile in South Africa since late 2021, returned to Botswana ahead of the national election, where his political rival, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, is seeking re-election. Khama, the son of Botswana’s founding president Seretse Khama, has denied the charges, stating they are politically motivated.
The allegations against Khama include unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretence. Khama left the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019 after a fallout with President Masisi and has since backed the opposition Botswana Patriotic Front. He has expressed his intent to help oust Masisi in the upcoming October 30 election.
Khama is scheduled to appear in court again on September 23, according to Magistrate Mareledi Dipate.
