By CHUSA SICHONE –
GOVERNMENT has accused foreign diplomats accredited to Zambia of meddling in the country’s affairs and conducting themselves unprofessionally.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Gerry Chanda said Government was concerned about some diplomats who were interfering in Zambia’s affairs by commenting on national issues.
Colonel Chanda said it was Government’s expectation that diplomats accredited to Zambia should respect the country’s laws by desisting from commenting on national issues such as partisan politics.
“The Government is very concerned over some of those comments since they are not good. You don’t go into somebody’s house and start dictating terms or commenting on how that person is running the house. It’s very unethical and we hope there will be an end to it,” he said.
Col Chanda charged that the foreign envoys commenting on Zambia’s governance were overstepping their bounds and taking the country’s kindness and hospitality for granted.
He said the unprecedented meddling in national affairs by foreign diplomats was ‘irritating’ reiterating his call for all emissaries to exercise maximum restraint.
He observed that political issues were very sensitive especially during the current period when the country was headed for elections.
However, he said Government welcomed foreign diplomats and thus challenged them to reciprocate by behaving accordingly.
