Chabinga's Comments on Diplomats do not Reflect View of the Government - Haimbe

The government has taken steps to distance itself from a controversial series of comments made by Robert Chabinga, MP for Mafinga and senior figure within the Patriotic Front (PF).

Chabinga made a shocking allegation last Sunday that foreign diplomats working in Zambia have been colluding with opposition parties in an attempt to derail the constitutional reform project that President Hichilema’s UPND government is currently undertaking.  

“Diplomats accredited to Zambia are working with the opposition, they’re working with CSOs to undermine Zambia and the nation’s sovereignty”, Chabinga declared.

Despite Chabinga’s sympathies for the government and his criticism of PF colleagues, it is clear that his views do not reflect the government’s position on these issues.

Responding to the fiasco on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement distancing itself from Chabinga’s comments, signed by the Minister Mulambo Haimbe.

The strongly worded statement proclaimed that Zambia remains committed to the 1961 Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, which upholds the principle of diplomatic immunity so that diplomats can perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country.

Mr Haimbe reasserted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds the exclusive responsibility for managing relations with Zambia’s diplomatic community, and upheld his commitment to allowing those diplomats to continue their work in an environment unencumbered by domestic political complexities.

He warned that statements liked Chabinga’s run the risk of undermining Zambia’s diplomatic engagements and hurting its standing within the international community.

Under the UPND’s leadership, Zambia’s dedication to maintaining cordial and productive relations with development partners remains steadfast.