Govt refuses Khama refund

Appeals judgment over his retirement benefits

Khama reports Botswana to UN for poisoning

Khama, Masisi trade potshots publicly 

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

As Botswana government rushed to file an appeal against a High Court order to refund former president Ian Khama for all expenses he incurred when he travelled to meet the Dalai Lama in India in 2019, the former president has switched gears.

Khama has reminded Botswana Government that the six months, which the UN had demanded answers on poisoning attempts to assassinate him, had elapsed. In an Interview this week, Khama said he awaits the long overdue response to the United Nations (UN) poisoning attempts that continue surfacing, noting that the six months Botswana Government was given to respond is overdue. Without any response forthcoming, Khama said it then becomes obvious why the Masisi administration do not have answeres to the UN enquiry. In March 2021, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrations Dr Agnes Callamard wrote to Botswana government asking it to act on assassination attempts against Khama. She said three intelligence agencies from states outside Botswana have issued credible warnings of threats  to Khama’s life, noting that such warning is based on intercepted communication.

“The reports refer to planned attempts on Mr. Khama’s life including the use of biochemical poison in two cases. One of the intelligence reports included a seemingly transcribed discussion on the administration of strychnine powder, which is readily available in Botswana (including the quantity that should be used the best way to administer it and general effects of any victim,” wrote Dr Callamard.

Despite the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) downplaying accusations that they are targeting Khama, the former President is adamant that they are planning another attempt on his life.  “It is true they have been planning to raid and arrest me under the pretext of associating me with criminal activity, including using weapons they want to link to me or my private security. That is their latest desperate attempt at me after they failed with their illegal and clumsy amateurish butterfly fabrication. We are aware of their plans, my attorneys are briefed, I have written to some in the international community to expose the rot,” revealed Khama.

Meanwhile, upon his return from the UN General Assembly in New York, USA, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said he is not bothered by criticism from political opponents. Taking a jab at Khama, Masisi said he has never seen in his lifetime where a seating President’s immediate predecessor has publicly sworn never to rest until his successor is down and out of government.

Observers are reading the latest developments as a clear indication that the cold war currently playing out between Khama and Masisi continues to escalate.

Dalai Lama trip

Meanwhile, Khama is also headed for a fresh showdown with the government as the latter is appealing a judgment of Gaborone High Court Judge Gabriel Komboni that Khama be refunded for all the costs that he incurred in his India trip to Dalai Lama in 2019, this publication has established.

In an interview, Khama said he is yet to be refunded by the government over his India trip. He said the Attorney General (AG) has appealed the judgment of the High Court and the case is pending before the Court of Appeal (CoA) therefore his reimbursement still remains not sorted.

“They have also brought an application for stay of execution that is for a payment of what the Government has been ordered by the Court to make to be suspended until the Court of Appeal determines the Appeal. As to the state flouting the constitution, you would have noticed in a series of court judgments that the regime has totally abandoned the rule of law and become amongst the lawbreakers,” buttressed Khama, remaining resolute of victory against the state.

In his judgment, Judge Komboni said government’s refusal to avail transport to Khama for his trip to meet the self-exiled Tibetan Spiritual Leader, the Dalai Lama, was unlawful. Justice Komboni declared that President Masisi’s refusal to avail Khama the benefit of air travel during his travel to India from 8 to 12 March and per diem allowance was unlawful hence Khama must be reimbursed. “The second respondent (Mokgweetsi Masisi)’s refusal to avail the applicant (Khama) access to use of government owned modes of transportation, to wilt, aircraft transportation and in particular the 2^nd respondent’s refusal of the applicant’s written requests dated 19 March 2019, 17 April 2019, 18 April 2019, 11 June 2019 and 17 June are hereby reviewed and set aside,” said Komboni.

Khama, in line with his retirement benefits, had requested for travel funds and security detail in order to honour the invitation by the Central Tibetan Administration in India to officiate at the 60th National Uprising Day in March 2019 however government abided the ‘One China’ Policy.

The One China policy is the diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s position that there is only one Chinese government and China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist working to split Tibet from China.

Butterfly Case

Khama also said the state will not succeed in its appeal in the P100 billion case against DIS agent Welheminah Maswabi (codenamed Butterfly) where they were found to have fabricated an entire affidavit. “This is proven by the OMNIA 208 page report and the recent court judgment. They have now immersed themselves in an attempt to play for time and to engage in all the usual dirty tactics during the appeal process .The reason why the regime resorted to flouting such laws is because they are driven by intolerance and fueled by vindictiveness that blinds them to the rule of law and indifference for it,” he said, reiterating that him and his allies will sue for defamation.

In August, Gaborone High Court Judge Dr Zein Kebonang berated the state for fabricating the affidavit in the Butterfly case. Justice Dr Kebonang ruled that the state through the DPP, DIS and DCEC fabricated and manipulated the evidence, framed and further falsely implicated the former DIS agent, Maswabi on the matter.“Citizens must never be terrified of their own government and those who exercise public power must do so honestly. The Applicant will never regain her reputation back,” observed Justice Dr Kebonang.