Botswana yesterday confirmed it will allow the Dalai Lama to visit next month as "a foreign dignitary" in the face of China's fierce opposition to the Tibetan spiritual leader. Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist campaigning for Tibetan independence and consistently condemns foreign governments who welcome him. Botswana Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi told lawmakers that the visit was "purely private" but added that the Dalai Lama would be granted the status of a foreign dignitary. She did not confirm a government announcement last week that he would meet President Ian Khama, which prompted a stern response from Beijing. China is a key investor across Africa.
To help us chat about this, we are joined on the line by:
• Ngodup Dorjee: Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Africa
• Shadrack Gutto, Director for the Centre for African Renaissance Studies at the University of South Africa
