The Green Party minister is facing criticism. - Botswana-Lanz elephant spitting conflict escalates
Background: Lemke aims to limit the import of hunting trophies as much as possible. Botswana perceives this as a hostile act. President Mokgweetsi Masisi (61) considers the Greens as "fundamentalists driven by ideology" and wants to bring elephants to Germany to show how to manage them - if she knew better ...
Lanz asked: "What's the connection between elephants and green ideology?"
Berlin's Culture Senator Joe Chialo (54, CDU, a native of Tanzania) accuses Lemke of ideological export from Berlin. "A declaration is being made towards Africa without considering the consequences for the ecosystem in Botswana."
Botswana and Namibia sense racism and refer to "neo-colonialism." Drastic accusations against the Greens! Lanz acknowledges major misunderstandings in the relationship.
On ZDF, Lemke responded to President Masisi's attack by saying: "The way the discussion unfolded, first with the 10,000 elephants planned for Hyde Park in the UK and then with the 20,000 elephants for Germany ... it's completely gotten away from the facts."
Lemke seems oblivious to the fact that the Africans had been advocating for their points for months and even requested a meeting with the minister, all to no avail. Chialo has urged them to do so again. The meeting in Berlin ended in heated discussion, with Botswana's environment minister even comparing Lemke to a "jihadist" afterwards.
Don't instruct Africans on how the environment should operate from Berlin
Chialo cautioned the Green Party on TV: "It's about working together. It's about being taken seriously. It's about not telling African countries how the environment should function from Berlin."
Lemke responds indignantly: "But who is doing that?" Chialo: "That was the accusation." Lanz mentioned Masisi and his elephant threat: "That's what the feeling seems to be, otherwise he wouldn't have said that."
Chialo addressed the minister directly: "Have you ever been to Botswana?" Lemke: "I've been to many African countries." She praised her close relationship with Rwanda's environment minister (around 2000 kilometers away from Botswana), mentioned a trip to Tanzania, and said she communicates with the Africans "on an equal footing."
"The impression may have been created"
Chialo advised Lemke to view Africans as partners. Lemke insists: "I do that. I think we should examine and separate the accusations and polemical statements that have been made, both with and possibly without basis."
Botswana's elephant relocation a polemic without basis? It's unlikely that these words will help resolve the diplomatic crisis. Slogan: It's not my fault if the Africans feel patronized. But Lemke had to acknowledge: "It may be that a misconception has been created."
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Source: symclub.org
