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Botswana's Ex-President Worries About Decline in Democracy, Rebuffs
Corruption Claims

Salem Solomon

   WASHINGTON - Botswana's former President Ian Khama is strongly denying
   allegations of corruption and voicing his concerns about the direction
   of the country.

   In an [1]interview with VOA's Nightline Africa radio program, Khama
   said claims made by the administration of current President Mokgweetsi
   Masisi that he misappropriated billions in the local currency are
   "laughable." He said he plans to take the matter to court.

   Khama said the false accusation is payback by members of the ruling
   party for his decision to campaign against them in the recent
   presidential election. The party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP),
   was founded by Khama's father.

   "The only reason that this was done was because a few months ago I
   resigned from the ruling party. Because they had abandoned our
   democratic credentials that we have had such a good reputation with up
   to this point in time," he told VOA.

   Botswana had an election in October where Khama campaigned against the
   ruling party.

   "They swore that they would 'get at me and fix me' in their own words
   for having done that," he said.

   Earlier this month, Jako Hubona, of Botswana's Directorate on
   Corruption and Economic Crime, [2]accused Khama and two other former
   high-ranking officials of transferring state funds to personal bank
   accounts in South Africa and Hong Kong. Only one official, senior
   intelligence officer Weleminah Maswabi, has been formally charged so
   far.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/episode/nightline-africa-4115211
   2. https://www.voanews.com/africa/botswanas-khama-hits-out-over-corruption-allegations

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