Former President Ian Khama is expected to arrive in Serowe at around 10 o’clock in the morning following years in self-imposed exile. According to a letter from the royal uncles of the Bangwato tribe, preparations are in full swing for a celebratory welcome ceremony for the former president.
The letter states that upon his arrival in Serowe, Khama will be escorted to his home in Palame-o-kue. Reports from the GaMmangwato capital say several people have been deployed across the cetral district villages to mobilise and ferry thousands of people to Serowe to ensure their Kgosikgolo receives a resounding welcome by his people.
Khama left the country on Novemeber 8 in 2021 in what was seen as heim fleeing from justice after he had been given an ultimatum to hand over his ‘illegally’ acquired firearms to intelligence unit DIS. Khama was facing 14 criminal charges, ranging from unlawful possession of firearms to receiving stolen property, and the DIS had instructed to hand in the firearm in his possession. With Khama not cooperating, the DIS gave him a deadline to have complied, which was Monday November 8, 2021 at 12 noon.
By the time that time elapsed, Khama had earlier that day crossed into South Africa via Martin’s Drift border, having ditched local security detail and government vehicles. He was picked by private car and has since then residing in South Africa, claiming fear of being killed by President Mokgweets Masisi. Masisi has since denied harbouring intensions of killing anyone, even sarcastically asking who was capable of killing between the two.
Earlier in June when addressing a gathering of Botswana Democratic Party elders in Serowe, Masisi reiterated his stance on Khama, saying even when he was briefed about charges against Khama and the subsequent warrant of arrest, he instructed tha under no circumstances should Khama be handcuffed.
Last week, against expectation from many, Khama arrived in the country and appeared at a court in Broadhurst, where the warrant of arrest against him was dropped. No arrest or any handcuffing took place. The warrant had been issued months earlier by the same court when he failed to appear for charges against him.
After the court appearance, Khama returned to South Africa to prepare for his final and permanent return. He is set to arrive this Friday morning at the welcome ceremony being prepared in his honour.
