Khama in gavel-to-gavel UK coverage
Mompati Tlhankane - Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday June 27, 2022 06:00
Khama is also due to engage with UK government officials as well as the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Yesterday, Khama, who is in the third year of an increasingly acrimonious fall-out with, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, told Mmegi he could not rule out the possibility of talking about his current self-exile plight and the conflict with his hand-picked successor.
Thus far, the former president’s battle with Masisi has played out largely in the local and regional media, where Khama has accused the current administration of attempting to kill him, persecuting him and his family through meritless prosecutions and ultimately forcing him out of the country.
Khama faces 14 criminal charges relating to the alleged illegal possession of firearms and has been absent from court as he moved to South Africa last November, citing fears for his life. The case before the Broadhurst Regional Court continues on August 30.
Speaking to Mmegi in an interview yesterday, Khama said the main purpose of his visit to the UK is to do with conservation but he could not rule out talking about his court case, his relationship with Masisi and other matters coming up in informal discussions or interviews.
He said if the well-publicised issues such as his fallout with Masisi come up it will not be so as a result of him (Khama) bringing it up. “I suspect some may do so as the matter has been extensively covered. But honestly, I would not want it to overshadow the main purpose of my visit to Italy; the same for here. A conference on peace and governance in different parts of the world is the main purpose,” he further told this publication.
With the government having blamed Botswana’s reputational damage on him in the recent past, Khama said the issues do not dominate his personal life to the exclusion of other things he enjoys doing. “Life goes on for me despite the onslaught on my person”.
SKI Khama Foundation chief executive officer, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo announced that the former president is on a private working visit to the UK and Italy where he has a full programme of engagements with his hosts in the two countries, as well as legislators, business, charity, and conservation organisations.
The trip is sponsored by the Botswana government.
According to a statement from Kaboeamodimo, in the UK Khama has been invited to engage with government officials, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Khama will also be hosted by conservation personalities and organisations where he is to be appointed president of a leading conservation establishment.
“This follows the setting up of a new conservation trust in South Africa to be launched on his return and for which he is patron. In Italy, Khama will participate in a conference on peace and governance drawing examples from across the globe. “The Peace Conference will be attended by eminent persons and several dignitaries including other former presidents and prime ministers. “Khama was invited to the meetings in recognition of his legacy and insights into democracy and quality of life on the African continent with particular notice of his outspoken stance against repressive regimes and unwavering support for justice, promotion of the welfare state, and political accountability,” Kaboeamodimo stated.
Although Khama says he will not willingly raise some of the thorny issues currently happening in Botswana, the government has always been concerned about some of the comments he makes in the media. Further, even though Khama’s trip is sponsored by the government, the latter is said to be worried about what Khama is going to say about Botswana and the current regime led by Masisi.
Last month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed Botswana’s reputational damage on Khama. The ministry admitted that the rivalry between Masisi and Khama had tarnished the integrity of Botswana, specifically the former’s negative comments about the country. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Foreign affairs permanent secretary, Dr Gladys Mokhawa clarified that the skirmishes between Masisi and Khama do not necessarily cause the reputational damage but utterances made by Khama do.
“The utterances tarnished the image of the country and put the country in bad light”.
She gave an example of an incident where Khama blatantly told South African media that Botswana is a shadow of its former self and has turned into a ‘banana republic’ under his successor. Last year Khama expressed that the Masisi-led government is trying to turn the country into a ‘Banana Republic’ during an interview with the SABC news television channel. Khama said Masisi has reversed all the great progress the former president has done including his own father, Sir Seretse Khama's legacy.
Before that the government of Botswana released a statement saying it was perturbed by Khama’s launching of persistent attacks on the State both locally and externally, which is rather peculiar for a former head of state.
“These attacks and insinuations have a calculated effect of obscuring the necessary attention to issues of compliance with the law that is expected of every citizen, including from high-ranking political figure heads,” acting permanent secretary at Botswana Government Communications and Information Systems John-Thomas Dipowe revealed in a statement.
Dipowe said the allegations made by Khama to the effect that there is regression of the democratic values in Botswana are not only unfounded but also misleading and to a large extent a distortion of the reality on the ground.
Khama then responded indicating that so many ills that happened under President Masisi’s governance are what have hurt the country’s international image and reputation, but not him.
According to a statement released by the government last week, Khama is scheduled to return to Johannesburg, South Africa on July 7. However Khama has since told Mmegi that he is yet to decide whether he will return to Johannesburg.
Regarding his court case, while no warrant of arrest has been issued in his name for not making court appearances, there has already been talk of extradition.