After nearly three years in self-imposed exile, Botswana’s former president Ian Khama returned to the country just weeks before the October general elections.
Khama led Botswana from 2008 to 2018 before handpicking Mokgweetsi Masisi as his successor; however, a bitter fallout over policy reversals and personal disputes forced Khama to flee to South Africa in 2021.
On September 23, Khama made a surprise appearance at the Broadhurst Regional Magistrate Courts in Gaborone, where Magistrate Mareledi Dipate set aside two arrest warrants against him.
The warrants were issued after Khama failed to appear in court to face multiple criminal charges, including illegal gun possession, charges he insists are politically motivated. He is due back in court on September 23.
Khama accuses Masisi of orchestrating the litany of charges against him and has publicly called the decision to make Masisi leader of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) a “mistake.”
Since assuming office in 2018 Masisi has reversed several of Khama’s policies including lifting the ban on elephant trophy hunting, easing liquor restrictions, and firing Khama’s close ally intelligence chief Isaac Kgosi.
Masisi also demoted Khama’s brother, Tshekedi, to a lesser cabinet role and failed to promote him to deputy president, contrary to the elder Khama’s wishes, which would have positioned Tshekedi as Masisi’s successor.
In the run-up to the 2019 general election, Khama left the ruling BDP and threw his support behind the newly formed Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), co-founded by his brother, Tshekedi Khama.
Later, Khama also endorsed the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by opposition leader Duma Boko, which finished second in the election, securing 36% of the vote, behind Masisi’s BDP.
The upcoming October 30 general elections will see Masisi, seeking a second and final term as he faces off against Boko’s UDC once again.
Khama’s life after the presidency shares many parallels with former South African president Jacob Zuma who was forced to resign by his deputy and eventual successor President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Zuma formed the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) which played a key role in reducing the ANC’s vote below 50% in the 2024 elections, forcing Ramaphosa to form a coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The two former presidents of Botswana (Ian Khama) and South Africa (Jacob Zuma) both backed political parties to challenge their successors and accuse them (Masisi and Ramaphosa) of weaponizing the legal system to politically prosecute them.
Will Khama’s return galvanize opposition forces and weaken Masisi or will the former president’s attempt to become kingmaker while settling scores against his successor fizzle out?
