A historical disgrace on Khama, Botswana

Although some of his allies like former Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) director-general Isaac Kgosi, Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe and deputy permanent secretary Victor Paledi have also been charged, this is already gearing up to become one of the most significant legal showdowns in Botswana’s history. This follows weeks of wrangling in which the former president and his sympathisers accused the DIS of detaining Khama’s allies and family without evidence.

While the move is unprecedented in Botswana, the months ahead are likely to be more dramatic as Khama, who is in exile in South Africa, did not return home to face his charges head-on yesterday in court. He might never get to make his plea before court because he said he fled the country fearing for his own life. On the day of his court appearance yesterday morning, he posted a video of himself piloting an aircraft in an undisclosed airspace.