State House Spokesperson Hamasaka Questions Ian Khama’s Character, Alleges Zambia Militia Links
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NewsState House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka has taken a personal swipe at former Botswana President Ian Khama following his remarks describing President Hakainde Hichilema as Africa's newest dictator. Khama made the remarks while questioning Botswana's decision to attend President Hichilema's inauguration, asking Botswana's Minister of International Relations whether the country regretted attending the inauguration #post_contentState House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka has hit back at former Botswana President Ian Khama, raising allegations over family connections and alleged militia sponsorship in Zambia. State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka has taken a personal swipe at former Botswana President Ian Khama following his remarks describing President Hakainde Hichilema as Africa's newest dictator. Khama made the remarks while questioning Botswana's decision to attend President Hichilema's inauguration, asking Botswana's Minister of International Relations whether the country regretted attending the inauguration
State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka has taken a personal swipe at former Botswana President Ian Khama following his remarks describing President Hakainde Hichilema as Africa’s newest dictator.
Khama made the remarks while questioning Botswana’s decision to attend President Hichilema’s inauguration, asking Botswana’s Minister of International Relations whether the country regretted attending the inauguration of what he described as Africa’s newest dictatorship.
The comments have since triggered reactions from various political figures and commentators in Zambia.
In a post on his Facebook page, Hamasaka said he would only respond competently to Khama’s statements when the former Botswana leader had finally married, adding that he wanted to engage some of his children in the discussion.
Hamasaka also questioned Khama’s character, saying he doubted whether the former president was a true Motswana, arguing that Batswana were generally disciplined and respectful towards other people.
He further suggested that Khama’s remarks were difficult to reconcile with the close relations between Zambia and Botswana, particularly the many intermarriages between citizens of the two countries.
Hamasaka went on to accuse Khama of hypocrisy, alleging that some individuals currently under police investigation were his personal relatives and questioning why the former president had not declared that relationship.
In an even more serious allegation, Hamasaka claimed that Khama was among individuals who sponsored a militia group in Zambia, adding that this was something they had known about for years.
He also accused the former Botswana leader of having previously visited State House in Lusaka to meet President Hichilema and lobby for his personal interests, before turning around to describe the Zambian leader as a dictator.
The allegations concerning the alleged militia sponsorship and Khama’s family connections to individuals under police investigation were not accompanied by supporting evidence in Hamasaka’s Facebook post.
Khama’s remarks have opened a wider debate about Zambia’s democratic governance, diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries and the manner in which political leaders respond to criticism.
The former Botswana president has not been quoted responding to the allegations raised by Hamasaka in the Facebook post.
Zambian Eye will continue following developments surrounding the exchange.
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