Authorities in Botswana have issued a warrant for former president Ian Khama’s arrest.
Khama is facing more than a dozen criminal charges, including illegally possessing five firearms, in Botswana, according to the warrant seen by Pindula News.
He was summoned to appear in court there in April but he did not show up.
The warrant, stamped and signed by a regional magistrate, Mareledi Dipate, orders that Mr Khama should be arrested on sight.
The 69-year-old left his home country in November last year and has been residing in neighbouring South Africa.
The warrant states that there are reasonable grounds of suspicion against Khama that he committed the crimes for which he’s been charged and if spotted, it calls for him to be apprehended immediately and brought before the Broadhurst regional court “to be examined and to answer to the said information and to be further dealt with according to the law”. Reads the warrant:
REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA OF APPREHENSION, OR FOR THE FURTHER DETENSION OF A WARRANT PERSON WITHOUT A WARRANT (SECTION 37(1) OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE PROCLAMATION (CAP 08:02)
To: WHEARAS from ‘written application subscribed by the Public Prosecutor and from information taken upon Oath before me, there are reasonable grounds of suspicion against Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Plot 260/ 261 Extension 5 Gaborone that he did on or about the…03rd day of March 2016 commit the crime of… Unlawful Possession of Firearms Contrary to Section 9(1.) of The Arm and Ammunition Act and other Offences as detailed in the Charge Sheet.
THESE are, therefore, in the name of the state to command you that immediately upon sight hereof you {apprehend or cause to be apprehended) the said and brought before Broadhurst Magistrate Court to be examined and to answer to the said information and to be further dealt with according to law.
Khama left the office in 2018 after leading the southern African country for 10 years. He accuses his successor Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi of being vindictive.