Botswana minister denies Ian Khama arrest warrant

Botswana’s Foreign Minister Lamagang Kwape has denied that an arrest warrant was issued for former President Ian Khama, who is living in exile in South Africa.

After being pressed on the issue by Sophie Ikenye from the BBC’s Focus on Africa prgramme, he said: “We will have to engage the ministry of justice to find out the status of any arrest warrant if any.”

In December, it was widely reported that a court in Botswana had issued an arrest warrant against Mr Khama on the charge of possessing illegal firearms.

The 69-year-old former leader has denied the charges and said they were part of a political conspiracy after he fell out with his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Mr Khama left office in 2018 after two five-year terms.

Foreign Minister Kwape spoke to the BBC on the sidelines of a just-concluded meeting of Commonwealth foreign affairs ministers in London.

He also told the BBC that the country was renegotiating contracts and licences in the diamond industry.

He added that Botswana needed to be more involved in the value chain in order to benefit from the diamonds, especially in the manufacturing sector.

The country has more skilled power that can be used to get more from the raw material, he said.