The former leader, now in South Africa, has been charged with illegal weapons possession.
Ian Khama, the former president of Botswana, will oppose a court-issued arrest warrant for illegal possession of weapons, his lawyer said.
Khama, who led Botswana from 2008 to 2018, left the country last year for neighboring South Africa after falling out with his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The arrest warrant, issued Friday by Gaborone’s regional judge, follows Khama’s failure to appear in court earlier this year. The 69-year-old has faced 14 charges since 2016, including money laundering and handling stolen property, but the arrest warrant is only for possession of five illegal firearms. France.
Mareledi Dipate, the judge who issued the arrest warrant, said Khama should be arrested immediately and taken to Broadhurst Magistrates Court.
Victor Ramalepa, the former leader’s lawyer, told local newspaper Mmegi that they would oppose the decision without giving further details.
Khama is charged along with former police and intelligence agency chief Isaac Kgosi, suspended Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe, and Victor Paledi, former permanent deputy secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Gender, and Sports. and culture.
Khama has vehemently denied the allegations, saying they were part of a political conspiracy due to his opposition to Masisi.
“There is no crime. I did nothing wrong,” Khama told South Africa’s state broadcaster SABC on Friday.
The former leader said the arrest warrant was issued because he “left the ruling party and campaigned against him.” [Masisi]”.
“I have a license [for the firearms]. They want to find [his property] and take them away. But they gave the wrong search warrant,” Khama told SABC.
“Despite the fact that they issued a false search warrant… I said that I have nothing to hide, let’s meet tomorrow and I will display weapons and permits. They didn’t come,” he added.
Khama, son of the first President of Botswana Seretse Khama, is the fourth president of Botswana.
After serving as commander of the Botswana Self-Defense Forces, Khama ventured into politics and served as vice president from 1998 to 2008, before succeeding Festus Mogae as president in 2008.
Khama was re-elected in the 2009 election. He was re-elected in October 2014, leaving office four years after completing two five-year terms.
