ESWATINI SURPRISED AT ATTACK OVER EX-PRESIDENT KHAMA

MBABANE - The Botswana President, Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has criticised Eswatini over the presence of their ex-president, Ian Khama in Eswatini, but the local government has received no formal complaint about this.

Neither is there a request for extradition for Khama, who has a warrant of arrest issued against him by a Botswana court for failing to appear to answer on charges of allegedly being in possession of illegal firearms. Khama has denied these charges and deemed them as fabricated, because he is seen as a threat in the 2024 elections. Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo has said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation would have received correspondence on the subject matter.

Concerns

This comes after Masisi addressed the ongoing 2024 Heads of Missions Conference for Botswana Envoys last Thursday in Gaborone, where he raised concerns about matters related to Khama’s administration and his alleged reluctance to return to Botswana to respond to them. The conference is held under the theme ‘Advancing Botswana Towards a High Income, Inclusive and Knowledge-based Economy Through Strategic Global Engagements’. As part of the first phase, the envoys met with the president to discuss issues of strategic and national interests.

Broadcast

The session, where Masisi spent over 40 minutes speaking on a variety of national issues, was broadcast live by Btv on social media platforms including Facebook. It was when he had engaged broadly on the agreement between Botswana and South African diamond giant De Beers that he then mentioned how disappointed he was with both the Kingdom of Eswatini and neighbouring South Africa. On the part of Eswatini specifically, the Botswana president said Khama’s other home was in the kingdom, which he referred to as an absolute monarchy. In response to this, Nxumalo said the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that there was no correspondence referred to a ‘d’emarche’ within the diplomatic circles and language, which has been received by the Kingdom of Eswatini concerning this subject matter. “Therefore, it suffices to say that the Government of Eswatini has nothing in hand as a basis on which to respond to, in this matter.”

Elaborating, Nxumalo said when a head of State responded to another, it was done through diplomatic channels (Foreign Affairs), not through spokespersons, as it was widely reported by some entities nowadays. “When the King responds to President Masisi, it will be done through the framework of the mutual diplomatic relations between the two countries, which is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Anything in between remains just good intentions and sentiments,” Nxumalo said. Meanwhile, Nxumalo had earlier advised that if there was any misunderstanding with the Republic of Botswana, it can be sorted without friction. He added that it would be rather difficult to respond to the sentiments by the Botswana president adequately, without knowing exactly the context in full. “Government will familiarise itself first with the perspective of the president in respect to his pronounced position and if need be, appropriate communication through the normal diplomatic channels will be made,” said Nxumalo.

He added: “One must hasten to point out that the Republic of Botswana has good, warm and cordial diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini. Any misunderstanding (real or perceived), should be handled without any friction whatsoever.” The latest developments have raised eyebrows, especially since Botswana and Eswatini are known to enjoy excellent bilateral relations which date back to the establishment of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (BOLESWA).

Commended

Ever since he became President, Masisi has on numerous occasions commended Eswatini for maintaining the cordial bilateral relations with Botswana, which he said were epitomised by the commitment to contribute towards the advancement of regional and continental development agenda. He said Botswana appreciated the diplomatic relations shared with the kingdom from time immemorial, which he described as built on shared bonds, cooperation and devoted membership in international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as a shared commitment to democracy, respect for human rights, peace and security. President Masisi has also visited the Kingdom of Eswatini before. He did so in April 2021, whereby he came for a one-day work visit, where he met Their Majesties.

During the meeting with His Majesty the King, the two heads of State discussed a wide range of issues, from exchange of human capital, collaboration in the areas of education, health as well as other possible areas of trade and cooperation between the two countries. The president also used the opportunity to present Botswana’s candidate for the SADC Executive Secretary position, Elias Mpedi Magosi, whom he described as the right candidate for the position. He said Magosi was an embodiment of all the good that Botswana is known for, such as good governance, prudent management of resources, respect for the rule of law and development driven. The president also briefed His Majesty about the political developments in Mozambique, as at that time he was the chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. The two leaders agreed on the urgency for Mozambique to be assisted and ensure the insurgency did not destabilise the people of that country. The two leaders also agreed that the terrorists had to be repelled before their actions spilled into the whole region. The King also commended Masisi for his commitment to nurturing Botswana’s relations with other countries, a noble impressiveness he said he is following with great admiration.

Exports

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, an international trade data visualisation site, Botswana exports goods worth millions to Eswatini. Meanwhile, Eswatini’s exports to Botswana are believed to be worth over E500 million, with the main products being scented mixtures, raw sugar, as well as industrial fatty acids, oils and alcohols. Meanwhile, Khama, the son of Botswana’s first President Sir Seretse Khama, was the fourth president of the southern African country. After serving as commander of the Botswana Defence Force, Khama was vice president from 1998 to 2008 and then became president when Festus Mogae retired. Khama was reelected in the 2009 elections and won reelection again in 2014, leaving office after completing two five-year terms. He quit the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019 and is now a patron of the splinter Botswana Patriotic Front.

He has, in recent times, become a familiar face at national events in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Just last Friday, he joined the many dignitaries who graced the Army Day held at Nokwane, where he sat next to another former President, Jacob Zuma, of South Africa. The two former presidents were gifted two cows each by the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF). Khama was also part of the dignitaries who attended the Buganu Ceremony at Hlane Royal Residence. It should be noted that Botswana is expected to hold its general elections towards the end of the year and Masisi, according to Botswana media, has said that he is prepared to be re-elected.

Establish Khama’s status first, then respond - ‘PQ’

MBABANE - Retired University of Eswatini Political Science lecturer Dr Qambukusa ‘PQ’ Magagula says there is a need for clarity on the status of former Botswana President Ian Khama’s visit to the country. Magagula said people needed to know if Khama was in the country as a refugee or something else. He said there was also a need to establish why he left South Africa and came to Eswatini.

According to Voice of America (VOA) News, Khama fled to South Africa after a warrant of arrest was issued against him, where he is allegedly facing 14 charges ranging from unlawful possession of firearms to money laundering. VOA News reported that Khama was formally charged in absentia in April 2022, but had not made a single court appearance.

Persecuted

Magagula said in international law, any country had a right to accept a person who they believed was being politically persecuted in their home country. He said there was a need to establish his status in the country before commenting on the allegations he was facing in his home country. According to Magagula, people deserve to know if the former head of State is in the country as an asylum seeker or has been given any other status. He explained that such scenarios needed to be investigated and answers obtained, as to why he moved from South Africa to Eswatini. “For me, I need to know if he is an asylum seeker or not. The last time I checked, one doesn’t need a permit to stay in a SACU/Commonwealth country for a certain number of days. In this case, one should know if Khama has stayed beyond the said days and what his status is in the country. “When he was in South Africa, we should know what his status was,” Magagula said.

Status

Adding, the political analyst stated that once they were able to establish Khama’s status, they would then be able to comment on the accusations levelled against him by the Government of Botswana. “Political talks can be misleading sometimes. What Botswana is saying will be followed up after we know Khama’s status in the country,” he said. Magagula went on to state that countries would always talk. He mentioned that political relations were not established on who says ‘what’ but established on what was happening on the ground. Furthermore, Magagula emphasised on the need to establish the truth about Khama before one could speculate. In the same vein, he said if the allegations that Khama was politically persecuted, there should be an independent arbiter, who would determine Khama’s case. Magagula said the arbiter would get all the truths from both parties and adjudicate the matter fairly. “Whatever the case may be, any person who finds themselves in such situations needs to be provided an independent arbiter who will adjudicate the matter,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: