Makgophe was charged along with former president, Ian Khama, ex-Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) boss Isaac Kgosi, former deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC), Victor Bruno Paledi, facing three counts of aiding and abetting unlawful possession of firearms. In April 2022, the ex-police chief found himself on the wrong side of the law following accusations of aiding to unlawfully acquire arms of war and ammunition certificates, but now he is a free man. A formal withdrawal notice issued by DPP Director Nomsa Moatswi revealed that a decision has been taken to discontinue criminal proceedings against Makgophe. “I Nomsa Sinki Moatswi, the director of DPP for the Republic of Botswana do hereby stop and discontinue criminal proceedings against the accused person, Keabetswe in a criminal case of State vs.Keabetswe presently before Village’s Magistrate Court,” read Moatswi’s formal notice of abandonment.
Moatswi, who did not detail what informed her decision, mentioned that the withdrawal was in pursuance of her powers under the Constitution and Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Makgophe, whose illustrious civil service career came to an end while still suspended from his lucrative job, was allegedly caught in the Khama-Kgosi web simply for doing administrative work for the duo during their tenure. It was alleged that he and Paledi were just registering the guns as they had already been cleared by customs but despite the claims, DIS went after them with accusations that what they did was criminal and a breach of national security to allow for Khama and Kgosi to have weapons of war. Makgophe, who rose through the police ranks to become Commissioner of Police, was reportedly under investigation for a long time concerning the licensing of guns to both Khama and Kgosi before being charged in 2022. For a long time while still in office, there were reports of suspension, redeployment, and investigations against the former police chief. In 2019, Makgophe allegedly became the DIS’ main target and fell under investigation by the intelligence agency following a raid at Kgosi’s residence where guns and ammunition were confiscated.
He was reported to be facing possible redeployment from the police force, but nothing concrete came out of the reports. At the time, numerous claims were that the commissioner got into trouble due to the gun licences that were given to Kgosi and his associates. The guns were reported to be of the military nature and should not have been in individuals’ hands. “Makgophe will likely be redeployed to another ministry so that investigations could be conducted freely without his interference,” said the source at the time. Accordingly, reports were that Makgophe did not give the licences to Kgosi himself but instructed one of his deputies to do so as he was also acting on instructions. It was alleged that besides one of the deputy commissioners knowing, the Permanent Secretary to the President at the time also knew about the matter as he was briefed. In the same year, Makgophe was allegedly given a letter to show cause why he should not be suspended.
Reportedly, he was suspended, and Mmegi broke the news following numerous sources confirming his suspension, but the letter was rescinded before it became public. However, at the time, the DIS boss Peter Magosi dismissed reports of the former commissioner’s investigation as mere allegations. Meanwhile, with Makgophe and Paledi’s charges dropped, it remains to be seen if Khama and Kgosi will have the same fate as information shared with the publication is that more charges will be dropped against the remaining accused persons.
