By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Lieutenant General Ian Khama, the former President of Botswana is allegedly ‘working' as a Special Personal Advisor to King Mswati.

It has been disclosed that,Khama who is facing political persecution in Botswana under President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s regime,received a warm welcome in eSwatini,he was frequenting South Africa and eSwatini but had to permanently re-locate to the tiny Kingdom after an alleged minor fallout with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Office of the South African President was not immediately available to clarify the issues surrounding the alleged permanent relocation of the Botswana President to the Kingdom of eSwatini.

But the issue and welfare of the former Head of State and influencial figure in Botswana,allegedly formed part of the discussions between King Mswati and President Ramaphosa during his visit this week, at least according to royal insiders very close to the matter.

The former President was offered a decent accommodation and State security personnel by the King, he is currently residing in a Hotel with an alternative accommodation in a house allegedly owned by King Mswati’s wife,Inkhosikati Make LaNkambule.

The exact location where the former President stays cannot be disclosed,as there are security risks amid the alleged persecution by the current Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s regime.

Khama’s security personnel include two(2) security officers from Botswana and about ten(10) soldiers and police officers, according to State Intelligence sources,the former President might soon buy a house in one of the towns(known to this publication) in eSwatini.

It is remain unclear why Botswana President Masisi opted to abuse powers and persecute Khama who comes from a family that transformed Botswana into a stable democratic State.

But,this is not the first time King Mswati provides warm hospitality to a persecuted Head of State,he once accommodated ousted Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana.

President Khama has been seen next to King everytime during public events, he was also present during the Army Day on Friday.

“It’s not only the King, even some South African political leaders approach him for political advice,he is very intelligent when it comes to politics and security”, said an insider close to the former President.

But King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane, when responding to this Swaziland News on Saturday on the subject matter, vigorously denied that,the former Botswana President “is now an Advisor” to the King.

“There is no provision for foreign Advisory Councils.The King has Liqoqo as an Avisory Council and other local bodies such as his Cabinet.We therefore have no reasons to believe the former Botswana President is now an official Advisor to the King,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

Efforts to seek a comment from the former Botswana President proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

But the Daily Maverick reported that,President Khama failed to secure a Johannesburg High Court order, suggesting that,he should be allowed to make representations to a Magistrate to avoid being arrested if the Botswana government tries to extradite him.

“The high court heard that Khama “avers has been the target of a coordinated,state-sponsored attack by the incumbent president of Botswana [Mokgweetsi Masisi]for expressing his opposition to what the applicant says are the current president’s ‘authoritarian policies and decisions,” the Daily Maverick reported.

On another note,it is alleged that,the documentation regarding the former Botswana President’s stay in the country is handled by King’s trusted servants within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.