Khama’s father, Seretse Khama, was Botswana’s first president. He has a disagreement with Botswana’s current president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, which led Khama to leave the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019.
Khama, residing in South Africa since November 2021, failed to appear in court in April to face charges. Therefore a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Some examples of these crimes are having a firearm while not legally allowed to, obtaining a firearm registration by deception, and receiving stolen property.
According to court documents unsealed on Thursday, Khama has petitioned the high court in Gaborone to have the warrant against him quashed or have its execution suspended, citing a lack of evidence for his prosecution.
He claimed in the paperwork, “The warrant of arrest threatens my right to liberty in circumstances where I have committed no crime” and that “should this warrant of arrest not be stayed or set aside…I would suffer irreparable injury for which I cannot be compensated in any form.”
An attorney for Khama said his client has yet to receive a hearing date. Since he was indicted in April, Khama has skipped court hearings, citing safety concerns as his justification.
Khama is now the patron of the Botswana Patriotic Front, a breakaway political party.