Africa-Press – Botswana. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) did not want former president Ian Khama to return to Botswana ahead of the 30 October general elections, opposition parties have claimed.
But now that Khama is returning to Botswana in a matter of days, it is alleged that the BDP is willing to use state resources available to it to keep the former president away from the campaign trail.
Khama is expected to return to Botswana on Friday this week after he made a brief appearance at the Broadhurst Magistrate Court last Friday where he successfully applied to have arrest warrants against him set aside after failing to appear for his 14 charges of illegal possession of firearms.
“Major obstacle”
Reports say the state attempted to challenge his freedom but Magistrate Mareledi Dipate ruled in Khama’s favour. According to Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) intelligence, Khama is seen as a “major obstacle” in the BDP’s quest to retain power in the upcoming elections.
A report believed to have been prepared by the UDC intelligence unit suggests that law enforcement agencies are being lined up to frustrate Khama and other opposition parties.
The report is titled “Coordinated Actions by State Agencies to Influence Election Outcomes Targeting Ian Khama” and is dated 17 October 2024.
“This intelligence report assesses recent movements by state institutions, particularly the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC), the Botswana Police, and the strategic involvement of President Mokgweetsi Masisi and DIS Director General Peter Magosi,” it says.
Weakening Khama
“The coordinated actions appear to target former president Ian Khama, with the broader goal of manipulating the upcoming election process and results in favour of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
“Khama, as a former president, continues to exert significant political influence, especially through his alliance with the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and its relationship with opposition parties, including the UDC.
“The following sections detail the anticipated strategies aimed at weakening Khama and influencing election outcomes.”
The UDC report then claims to have intercepted intelligence predicting that the BDP will use DIS, DCEC, DPP and the Botswana Police Service in its efforts to stay in power.
Fabricated allegations
It purports to anticipate that the BDP will attempt to discredit the opposition through fabricated or exaggerated allegations.
By discrediting Khama and, by extension, his political allies, the ruling party aims to destabilise the campaign of the opposition through planned police raids, legal actions, and DCEC investigations, causing instability within opposition ranks.
The report further alleges that electoral intimidation and voter suppression will be the broader goals of these efforts.
Commenting on the report, UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa stated: “I have been made aware of it. As you would appreciate, matters of intelligence are sensitive and privileged information. Secondly, the UDC is a large organisation with different operational levels.
Constrained
“If there is such a document, it will be formally brought to the NEC for discussion and information sharing. Until that has taken place, I am constrained from commenting further.”
Meanwhile, BDP spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse has dismissed any claims that the ruling party will attempt to use state agencies to influence the elections.
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