Dalai Lama puts Khama, gov't on collision course

The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Expressing his frustrations on Wednesday evening which was also his 66th birthday, Khama said Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi wrote to him saying because of the “One-China policy which actually refers more to Taiwan than to Tibet the government policy is to stick to that line, that government would not take any part in funding that trip”. Khama explained that he was challenging government’s decision because in the Constitution he is entitled to four trips in a year.

“…And there are no conditions attached. I can go where I want, I can meet who I want, the government cannot start dictating to me who and where I can go,” Khama explained. The former president and his entourage are due to leave on March 8. Khama added that he has taken the matter to his lawyers to challenge the decision. During his presidency in 2017, Khama risked cutting ties with China after he invited the spiritual leader to visit Botswana.