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Botswana: ex-president Khama wants to return and drive out his successor

2023-03-27T06:54:21.572Z


He had left power with peace of mind. But disappointed by his designated successor, whom he now accuses of authoritarianism, the former president of...


He had left power with peace of mind.

But disappointed by his designated successor, whom he now accuses of authoritarianism, the former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, intends to return to the political scene and take over the reins of the country during the presidential election next year. .

The transition between the two men had however been exemplary in 2018: after ten years in power, Mr. Khama had resigned at the end of a second term, as provided for by the Constitution.

His vice-president Mokgweetsi Masisi, whom he himself had chosen as his successor, then unsurprisingly took over.

Political life in Botswana is generally quiet.

The major diamond-producing country is one of the most stable African democracies.

But today the former head of state is promising a fierce campaign to dethrone his 60-year-old replacement, whom he sees as a threat to democracy in the southern African country.

"

I have to make up for the mistake I made in appointing Masisi to succeed me

," he confessed in an interview with AFP during a visit to Johannesburg.

It was a huge mistake, which the country regrets.

It has totally undermined democracy, human rights, the rule of law and has interfered in the judicial system

,” he criticizes.

The NGO Amnesty International notably condemned a "

very worrying increase

" in the number of executions of convicts in the first year of Mr. Masisi's mandate.

The death penalty is still applied for murder in Botswana, the only southern African country to still carry out executions.

Asked by AFP, neither the president nor the government spokesperson responded.

“Bowwanese version of Trump”

At 70, ex-president Khama, settled in South Africa after retiring from political life, is preparing to return home, with a plan.

He wants to cheer up the opposition and form a coalition to beat Mr. Masisi for president next year, whom he describes as "

the Botswana version of Donald Trump

".

Since independence, we had a very good reputation in terms of democracy, we shone on the African continent.

We were known around the world for our adherence to democracy.

And then this man comes one day and overturns everything

, ”he regrets.

Ian Khama will run for president of his own party next month.

He slammed the door of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), in power since independence from England nearly 60 years ago.

His father and first Botswanan president, Seretse Khama, had co-founded the party.

But according to the former president, schemes to neutralize him and throw him in prison upon his return or even poison him are being developed.

In December, the country's authorities issued an arrest warrant against him for illegal possession of firearms.

In anticipation of the worst, he says he updated his last wishes.

They fear that I can still play my influence and that I can weigh on public opinion.

But there's no need

says Mr. Khama.

When he left power, the ex-president had nevertheless declared that he was drawing a line under politics, thinking in particular of devoting himself to agriculture.

But he is now "

determined to make sure that this man (Masisi) goes away

".

In a speech to a BDP rally in late January, Mokgweetsi Masisi, however, seemed to seek appeasement.

I pray that we will meet again one day (…) to ask each other for forgiveness

”, he assured.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-03-27

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