I am a threat to Masisi- Khama on warrant of arrest
Mompati Tlhankane - Sharon Mathala | Friday December 30, 2022 08:22
"This has nothing to do with anything illegal I have done because I never have . It is only about one thing . And that is to remove me from being a threat to masisi and his reelection," Khama disclosed.
Khama who has been on self imposed exile in South Africa since last year says he is ready to come back to Botswana to expose Masisi.
"Yes I would very much welcome an extradition application so I can expose in a foreign court the lies masisi and Magosi have been fabricating as they did in the butterfly case."
Asked if he has been served with any legal papers the former army General responded to the contrary.
Meanwhile ,Khama has strong words of his own, "Finally if I can be arrested and charged when I was president for doing nothing wrong, watch what happens to them for the real crimes they have been committing when they are no longer in office and no cronies to protect them."
Khama was slapped with a warrant of arrest this morning by the regional Magistrate court .
The former president has been charged with 14 criminal charges ranging from unlawful possession of a firearm to receiving stolen property.
According to warrant of arrest issued by acting regional magistrate Mareledi Dipate today, Khama is to be apprehended on sight and brought before the Broadhurst Magistrate Court. Khama who is the second accused in the matter has never appeared before court since he was charged in April. Today when Khama’s warrant was issued his co-accused being former spy Chief Isaac Kgosi, suspended police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe and Victor Paledi were all absent. The trio however have not missed any court appearance since they were charged alongside Khama.
According to the state there are reasonable grounds of suspicion against Khama that he did on or about March 3, 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. Other charges include procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretence, aiding and abetting unlawful possession of a firearm and ownership of a firearm not registered in accordance with the Arms and Ammunition Act of 2018.Khama is to be arrested and answer to the said charges and be further dealt with according to the law.
Before the warrant of arrest the State had indicated that it would like to extradite former president Khama into the country to face criminal charges. Until today no progress had been made yet. Khama in the past told this publication that he will welcome any extradition effort by the state. "My comment is that I would very much welcome an extradition request because that would give me and my associates an opportunity to expose the lies and fabrications that President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his cronies have been embarking on against me,” Khama told Mmegionline in an interview at the time.
He said extradition doesn’t happen in a manner where one applies today and the next day they are back in the country. “There is a legal process that has to be followed which includes an appearance in a South African court and that is why I welcome it,” he said. He added that what comes out in an SA court will be published widely therefore, that would work for him.