{"id":4694,"date":"2017-04-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amabhungane.org\/amabhungane\/stories\/journalists-threatened-while-investigating-botswanas-nkandla\/"},"modified":"2024-09-23T11:19:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T11:19:21","slug":"journalists-threatened-while-investigating-botswanas-nkandla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/journalists-threatened-while-investigating-botswanas-nkandla\/","title":{"rendered":"Journalists threatened while investigating Botswana’s ‘Nkandla’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Botswana journalists investigating allegations about President Ian Khama\u2019s rural residence were blocked by security agents and warned they would be shot if they came that way again, Joel Konopo reports.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

They crowded around us \u2013 Joel Konopo, Ntibinyane Ntibinyane and Kaombona Kanani \u2013 staring with open hatred. Some covered their faces with balaclavas. Others took cover under a huge truck in a nearby thicket, weapons at the ready, poised to squeeze the trigger. Those who hemmed us in took turns in interrogating us and demanding our identity documents.<\/p>\n

We obliged \u2013 after all, we were three journalists against seven heavily armed plain-clothes security operatives.<\/p>\n

One grinned when we refused to allow them to search us because they refused to produce their identity documents after claiming to be police officers. \u201cLe a tshameka!<\/em>\u201d (You\u2019re playing!) a dark, shaven-headed, burly officers who appeared to be the commander of the team warned. Another with shell-shocked eyes snapped: \u201cHere in the bush, you do as we say!\u201d<\/p>\n

We realised that our journey \u2013 to investigate allegations that President Ian Khama is using the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to perform his personal errands and renovate his private residence on the outskirts of Mosu in Boteti, central Botswana \u2013 was doomed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a restricted area,\u201d the bloodshot-eyed commander told us, without informing us of the relevant legislation. When we asked why they were blocking the road, they offered no explanation and laughed. Later he escorted us out of the area after threatening that if we ever came that way again they would shoot us.<\/p>\n

The Protected Areas and Places Act of 1997 lists over 123 locations that one requires official clearance to enter. It does not mention a gravel road on the outskirts of Mosu, through cattle posts and peasant farms.<\/p>\n

The journey to the president\u2019s \u201cno-go-area\u201d started 22 hours earlier, when the three of us, all members of the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism<\/a>, left Gaborone in the evening with the intention of verifying claims that soldiers are refurbishing the outgoing President\u2019s private residence at the taxpayers\u2019 expenses.<\/p>\n

The Botswana Guardian <\/em>newspaper reported in 2013 that Khama had \u201csettled\u201d in Mosu in the late 2000 after Letlhakane sub-land board allocated him two plots measuring 1.1 square kilometres for the construction of a lodge and compound complete with an airstrip at a cost of P1.3 million at the mouth of Makgadikgadi Pans.<\/p>\n

Details of the construction and development of Khama\u2019s private residences in various parts of the country are shrouded in secrecy. As we discovered, trying to lift the veil entails some personal risk.<\/p>\n

Using the state media, the government has consistently denied reports that the BDF or the department of buildings and engineering services has been involved in the construction or renovation of Khama\u2019s residence in Mosu.<\/p>\n

To increase our chances of investigating at first hand, we interviewed three locals in Mosu and asked for directions. By afternoon, we had taken a gravel road to the east with the hope of surprising the BDF at the construction site.<\/p>\n

In our minivan we followed the winding track across endlessly flat terrain to Toragara \u2013 a sprawling cattle post on the edge of Makgadikgadi plains, some 15km to the north of Mosu.<\/p>\n

After we had driven for about 10km, armed men suddenly emerged from the wilderness and leapt onto the gravel road. Our van ground to a halt. It looked and sounded like an ambush.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out!\u201d the the man who apparently commanded the unit ordered. He surveyed our van carefully, wiping mud off the number plate.<\/p>\n

Then he turned to us indignantly: \u201cThis road will get you nowhere \u2013 where are you going? Let me see your IDs.\u201d We froze for a moment, then reluctantly complied.<\/p>\n

As we regained our composure, we looked around as clean-shaven plain-clothes officers scribbled our names on a notepad. We identified two silver Toyota Land Cruisers parked in a dense thicket, a large MAN pick-up truck and two Honda ATV quad bikes \u2013 all with private number plates.<\/p>\n

It soon occurred to us that the plates had been quickly covered up. But we had memorised one of the SUV\u2019s number plates: the private registration number B802 ATI.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you work?\u201d the plainclothes officers demanded as they took turns in interrogating us. To avoid revealing that we were investigative journalists, we told them that we were media consultants.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are police officers,\u201d the \u2018commander\u2019 exclaimed without providing further details.<\/p>\n

At this stage we asked the \u2018commander\u2019 if he could produce evidence that he was indeed a police officer.
\nHe expressed outrage at our nerve and took off on a red quad bike to collect his identity document, according to the remaining officers.<\/p>\n

After 30 minutes he was back with a firm and stomach-turning warning. \u201cKonopo and Ntibinyane,\u201d he called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are very young, when I look at you I see my sons. Never again set foot on this road \u2013 not next week, not next month, not in six months, not next year. If you ever do, we will shoot and kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

We grinned nervously in protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you can laugh,\u201d he said. \u201cNext time we will speak to you through the barrel of a gun. It is the only language you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commander continued: \u201cLet me be clear,\u201d he said this time, raising his voice. \u201cNext time if you come here we will kill you. We will shoot you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shocked, we asked him to take back the threat. \u201cI repeat \u2013 we will shoot and kill you,\u201d he said defiantly.<\/p>\n

After being detained for about an hour, we were escorted out of the area. But before we could leave the scene of the ambush our mobile phones and camera were confiscated.
\n\u201cYou are photographing us. Bring your phones. Bring your phones,\u201d the commander hollered as he peeped into our rented vehicle. No one had photographed him, but we complied and surrendered the equipment.<\/p>\n

One of the silver Land Cruisers escorted us out of the Mosu area until we were a few kilometres from Mmatshumu village. When he was satisfied that we were right out of area, the commander returned our phones and camera to us. \u201cYou must now get out of this place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Then he told us: \u201cWe knew you were coming. We had the information that you were coming.\u201d How is that possible, we asked him? He laughed and provided no clue.<\/p>\n

The words, \u201cWe will shoot and kill you\u201d from an armed security operative stayed with us throughout our journey to Letlhakane, a sprawling diamond mining town in the heart of Botswana.<\/p>\n

The threat could not be taken lightly.<\/p>\n

In 2009, four security agents pumped 16 bullets into the body of an unarmed Gaborone man, John Kalafatis, and received a presidential pardon 11 months into their jail sentences.
\nUnder Khama, himself a former commander of the Botswana Defence Force, the security forces are acting with increasing freedom.<\/p>\n

Weeks before the general election, Sunday Standard<\/em> editor, Outsa Mokone was held for several hours under sedition charges, causing veteran journalist at the same paper, Edgar Tsimane to flee to South Africa, saying he feared for his life.<\/p>\n

Section 220 (1) of the Penal Code prohibits any threat to kill and imposes a prison sentence of not more than 10 years for those who commit the offence.<\/p>\n

We reported the matter to the commander of the Letlhakane police station, Superintendent Michael Maphepu. A month later, there has been no police feedback on the progress of the investigation.<\/p>\n

Shortly after our threatening encounter, the Office of the President released a statement saying security personnel suspected we were going to \u201ctrespass into a restricted area\u201d.
\nNo explanation was offered for why it is restricted. Jeff Ramsay, spokesperson for the presidency declined to comment on whether an area 5km from the president\u2019s compound is protected under any Act.<\/p>\n

On persistent rumours that the BDF is involved in building and refurbishing the presidential residence, Ramsey said: \u201cGovernment has noted with shock and dismay a continuing spate of false and misleading reports by some private media houses in Botswana, in which innuendo and deliberate distortion of facts have taken prominence as headlines and main news reports of identifiable media outlets.<\/p>\n

\u201cCases in point include an offensive suggestion that the President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama has constructed a private residence in Mosu using taxpayers\u2019 money.\u201d
\nRamsay said the BDF had only engaged in such activities as the construction and maintenance of the airstrip outside the compound and helipad within the perimeter fence, and associated facilities.
\n\u201cIn this respect the only significant recent activity involved renovation of the helipad, which was suspended due to rains but will resume.\u201d<\/p>\n

The farmers we interviewed said that until recently they had been able to walk freely and gather firewood on the outskirts of Mosu, but that the presence of BDF and plain-clothes officers has curtailed their movements.
\nThe three men we met in Mosu had warned us to watch out for the military. \u201cSometimes they can be cocky,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

* This story was produced by the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism<\/a> in Botswana, in association with the amaBhungane Centre for investigative Journalism.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nThe amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism provided this story. Like it? Bean amaB supporter<\/a> and help us domore. Know more? Send us <\/em>a tip-off.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Botswana security agents outside President Ian Khama’s rural residence told three journalists they would be shot if they came that way again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4694"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30661,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4694\/revisions\/30661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}