…as Given Lubinda, Msoni, Sean lampoon the excommunicated Mafinga MP for his uncouth behaviour towards diplomats in a bid to please the UPND with whom he has entered into a solo alliance.
GOVERNMENT has been challenged to denounce Robert Chabinga for threatening diplomats accredited to Zambia, including their children, of unspecified reprisals and demanding that President Hakainde Hichilema should expel the foreign envoys whom he has accused of collaborating with the opposition to undermine Zambia’s sovereignty.
Mr Chabinga, the expelled Mafinga law maker has accused diplomats accredited to Zambia of interfering in Zambia’s internal affairs by allegedly supporting Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s Sixth President and other opposition political groupings, whom he now demands should be expelled from the country.
And now Given Lubinda, the Patriotic Front (PF) vice president and Nason, the All Congress Party leader have warned that Nr Chibinga’s threats were such a serious breach of diplomatic protocols and are calling on the UPND government to censure Mr Chibinga whose threats had the potential to sour Zambia’s diplomatic relations with other countries.
Mr Lubinda, a former Foreign Affairs Minister says there is a real danger that Mr Chibanga, currently in an individual alliance with the UPND could be creating a perception that the new dawn administration has been using him to pour scorn on diplomats thereby fracturing diplomatic relations with other countries.
Mr Lubinda described Mr Chabinga’s statement as a serious breach of diplomatic protocol and called on the state to act swiftly in upholding the law.
“In a puppet show, the actions of the puppet are not its own but those of the puppeteer,” Mr Lubinda said.
He stated, “ the whole country knows that Mr Chabinga is being used. If he is not being instructed by those in power, then the government must drop him and disown his statements. As long as he is not disowned, we will take his words as those of the puppet master, and that is a serious indictment on the state.”
Mr Lubinda pointed out out that the country’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act criminalises threats against the lives of others, arguing that Mr Chabinga’s remarks should not be treated lightly.
“When foreign diplomats are accredited to a country, they are assured of basic security and protection. Threatening diplomats in such an open manner places the burden on the state to act. The law is clear, anyone who issues threats on another person’s life must be held accountable. We are watching to see if Mr Chabinga will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
Mr Lubinda also questioned the silence from key government officials, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, suggesting that their inaction could be perceived as approval of Mr Chabinga’s sentiments.
“The accusation that the diplomats are working with the opposition is what they want to hear to try and win the sympathy of the public that the UPND is being fought by the opposition with the support of foreign missions. That is the reason why they have been mute all this time. This is all part of a desperate attempt to win public sympathy,” he said.
Echoing Mr Lubinda’s concerns, Mr Msoni also condemned Mr Chabinga’s remarks, saying they painted the UPND government in a negative light and threatened the country’s longstanding reputation as a peaceful and diplomatically neutral nation.
“The statement by Robert Chabinga asserting that diplomats accredited to Zambia are working with the opposition casts the UPND government in a very bad light.
Mr Chabinga, being both a sitting MP and a known government project, places the establishment in a very awkward position.
Attacking the diplomatic community is reckless and reflects a misinformed and hostile posture toward international engagement,” he stated.
Mr Msoni said government’s failure to respond so far suggested complicity and warned that continued silence would only escalate tension.
“When a political party has lost the argument for remaining in power, it should never transfer its frustrations to foreign governments.It’s not the diplomatic community that failed to deliver basic services to the Zambian people. Fighting diplomats is a misplaced battle the UPND will not win. They should focus on governance instead of chasing imaginary enemies,” he said.
He also described Mr Chabinga as a political liability, stating, “Chabinga adds no political value to the UPND. I doubt any Zambians take his ranting seriously, and I doubt his endorsement helps President Hichilema in any way.”
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo also weighed in on the matter, defending the rights of foreign diplomats to engage freely with all stakeholders in the country, including opposition parties.
“There is nothing wrong with diplomats meeting members of the opposition.This is a democracy. People are free to interact, and such engagement should be encouraged, not condemned. Chabinga’s statements are completely misplaced and have no room in a democratic society such as ours.” Mr Tembo said.
He explained that diplomats serve the interests of their countries and are in Zambia to promote mutual cooperation, trade, and investment.
He warned that alienating the diplomatic community could have serious economic and political consequences for the country.
“Diplomats are here to facilitate investment and build bilateral relations. “That only happens through open communication – not just with the government, but with all sectors of society. To isolate them or suggest they are enemies is damaging and counterproductive,” he said.
Ends.