How Khama, the former president of Africa’s diamond nation, fell out with his protégé

Ian Khama’s well mannered voice may barely conceal the trend inside him.

When Botswana’s former president started expressing dissatisfaction together with his handpicked successor, Mokwezi Masisi, in 2019, he spoke in harsh phrases about him in a number of interviews.

Masisi is “drunk with energy”, Khama told BBC Africa Focus 5 years in the past.

The 71-year-old has since gone into exile, recounting a plot to poison him and being charged in Botswana with crimes together with cash laundering and possession of unlawful firearms.

He had beforehand denied the costs have been “fabricated” and returned residence final month to look in court docket for a preliminary listening to.

Tensions between Khama and Masisi may have penalties for the diamond-rich nation’s upcoming common elections, simply three weeks away, as the previous president is actively campaigning for the opposition.

Khama was all smiles throughout an extra temporary court docket look on Tuesday.

Authorities at the moment are believed to be contemplating whether or not to proceed with the case.

There is a good probability issues will cease now that Khama’s co-defendants now not face prices. However the courts won’t reopen till a month after the election.

To outsiders, who could usually view Botswana as one of many continent’s most secure democracies with sturdy establishments, this dispute between the present and former president could appear stunning.

The Botswana Democratic Social gathering (BDP) has been in energy since independence from Britain in 1966.

It has dominated parliament for the previous 5 years underneath a constituency-based system, though its vote share has hovered round 50% in latest elections.

The nation’s first president, Khama’s father, Sir Seretse Khama, was of royal descent and helped cement Botswana’s fame for orderly authorities through the 14 years he dominated till his loss of life in 1980.

His 1948 marriage to a white British lady, Ruth Williams, was controversial and led to his exile in England.

The couple’s second baby, Ian Khama, in contrast his latest expertise in South Africa to his father’s departure from Botswana.

After finishing his navy service, he grew to become president in 2008 for a 10-year time period.

Regardless of its dynastic attraction, the luster of Khama’s authorities light, and within the 2014 elections the BDP gained lower than 50% of the vote for the primary time.

Considerations about corruption, human rights and an economic system with excessive unemployment have all dented Khama’s reputation.

Botswana’s rating on the Ibrahim African Governance Index, funded by Sudanese telecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim, declined throughout his time in energy.

The nation’s huge diamond reserves have confirmed profitable and fueled financial progress, however haven’t created sufficient jobs for younger folks and the wealth has not been dispersed.

In 2018, Khama handed energy to his loyal vice-president Masisi, maybe within the hope that he would nonetheless have some affect, however issues rapidly went unsuitable.

One principle is that there was a gentleman’s settlement that Masisi would appoint Khama’s brother Tsekedi as deputy president, however he refused to take action.

Khama started complaining that his safety forces have been being lower and democracy inside the BDP was being undermined.

Masisi additionally reversed some key insurance policies For example, prohibiting trophy hunting and ended skepticism about nearer ties with China.

A 12 months after resigning from the presidency, Khama joined the newly fashioned opposition Botswana Patriotic Entrance (BPF), telling the BBC on the time that “the democracy that we’re so happy with is now in decline on this nation”.

He subsequently went into self-imposed exile in late 2021, claiming his life was underneath menace.

Masisi dismissed the criticism and earlier this 12 months described the poisoning allegations as “stunning”.

“If you happen to have a look at the historical past of killing or homicide in Botswana and the strategies used, poisoning is just not one of many strategies we all know greatest about, however not too long ago it has [Khama] He appears to be an knowledgeable.” Masisi told France 24And added that the previous president has nothing to fret about.

Masisi additionally mentioned there was “a litany of inconsistencies” within the arguments Khama used towards the federal government and its management.

There may be completely no probability of reconciliation between the previous allies, with Khama hoping to finish the 58-year reign of the BDP his father helped create.

There are alternatives to realize votes from the federal government as a scarcity of job alternatives and corruption allegations additionally plague the present authorities.

Moreover, the previous president stays extremely revered at residence, particularly amongst older voters and round his hometown of Serowe, the place he’s a high chief and the place the BPF issued a manifesto over the weekend.

However Masisi and the BDP stay in a robust place, particularly with the opposition divided.

The October 30 polls present the Khama dynasty with one other probability to affect the nation’s future.