By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:His Excellency Lieutenant General Ian Khama,the former Botswana President,has accused President Mokgweetsi Masisi of attempting to end his life through poisoning, as part of the ongoing persecution against him.

The former President disclosed this when responding to this Swaziland News during an interview on Sunday.

Lieutenant General President Khama first apologized to this journalist for delaying to respond, as he was busy attending the recent King’s Birthday as a Guest and traveling to other countries like Nigeria after being invited in his capacity as a former Head of State.

Worth-noting and despite the political persecution,President Ian Khama continues to receive recognition and invitations from various countries and organizations to address gatherings, events and ceremonies as a Guest Speaker. 

Botswana President Masisi through the Government Spokesperson sent an email to this Swaziland News and promised to respond regarding the issue of the alleged politically persecuted former President.

When asked to clarify the tension between President Masisi and King Mswati with regards to the cause of the political persecution he “is currently facing in his country”, the former President said, he cannot comment on the alleged tension but, confirm knowledge of the persecution and attempts to end his life by the current ruling President Masisi regime.

“I cannot comment if there is tension between His Majesty King Mswati and Masisi but as for persecution I can certainly confirm that there has been plenty of that against me and my family and associates by Masisi and some in his regime that he has directed to carry out on me/us.Examples of such include but are not limited to;Poison attempts, fabrication of charges,manipulation of some in the judiciary,illegal arrests and detentions, harassment and intimidation of donors of my charities,instructions to government media not to cover events I am invited to,election rigging etc”, said the ex-Botswana President.

On another note,Lieutenant General Ian Khama said, he was ready to share with this investigative journalist some of the documents and information that substantiate his persecution by President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The former Head of State whose father Sir Seretse Khama is highly regarded for transforming Botswana into a democratic country said, part of the information was shared with the Governments of the Southern African Development Community(SADC), a body that promotes regional integration, peace and stability in the region.

“I have a dossier of all these if you are interested to obtain that I shared will all SADC governments.The cause of the persecution according to sources close to Masisi is his insecurity about the possibility of continuing coverage and support for me and my charitable activities after I left office that might overshadow him.It is not only with the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa he takes issue with but, on all the occasions I am invited to in other countries where I officiate,like recently in Nigeria,or where I receive awards etc that send him into a frenzy of resentment and from there will follow attempts to discredit me in the government media or social media using pseudo posts put out by the intelligence service”, said the former President.

When asked to clarify if he feels safe in eSwatini, the former President thanked King Mswati and the people of eSwatini for the warm welcome,he said his father was very close to King Sobhuza and as result,he attended school at Waterford(KaMhlaba).

“Whenever I visit Eswatini I feel very safe and made to feel very welcome by the warmth and hospitality extended to me by His Majesty and the citizens of the kingdom I come into contact with,which reaffirms the strong bond I am my family started with my father, the late Sir Seretse Khama had with the late King Sobhuza which saw my brothers and I being sent to school in the then Swaziland.I was at Waterford KaMhlaba for five years and a student when King Sobhuza bestowed upon it the name KaMhlaba”, said the former President.