Professor Bwalya warns veiled threats to foreign envoys could damage Zambiaís international standing
GOVERNMENT should institute a formal investigation into Robert Chabinga, the excommunicated Patriotic Front (PF) Mafinga Member of Parliament, following his veiled threats directed at diplomats accredited to Zambia, Professor John Bwalya, a peace and international relations expert at the Dag Hammarskjöld Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies has said.
Prof Bwalya said Mr Chabinga’s comments, which were reportedly issued during a political address, carry grave diplomatic implications and should not be taken lightly. He said Zambia, as a sovereign state with longstanding international ties, must uphold the sanctity of diplomatic immunity and the safety of foreign envoys.
“The veiled threats by Mr. Chabinga are not only reckless but potentially inflammatory, and in direct conflict with Zambia’s foreign policy and international obligations.
What he said was incriminating. Government must disassociate itself from those remarks and publicly clarify its position to avoid unnecessary diplomatic tension,” Prof Bwalya said in an interview.
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Mr Chabinga alleged that foreign diplomats were colluding with the opposition to destabilize the governance of the country by UPND.
He further warned that he would expel them and deal with their children.
Prof Bwalya argued that Mr Chabinga must be held accountable and that the government’s failure to act or respond would risk sending the wrong message to the international community, namely, that such sentiments enjoy tacit support from the administration.
“Zambia has always maintained a reputation for peace, stability, and diplomatic decorum.
That image is now at stake. If left unchecked, these comments could jeopardize foreign cooperation and strain our bilateral relations, especially in the areas of aid, trade, and investment,” he said.The don further stressed that diplomats serve as conduits of cooperation and understanding, and their safety, as enshrined in international conventions like the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, must never be compromised.
Prof Bwalya urged law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to launch a probe into the remarks and engage with affected diplomatic missions to reassure them of their safety and continued welcome in Zmbia.
“It is essential that we maintain clear boundaries between political rhetoric and national interest. Political leaders, especially elected ones, must learn to exercise restraint and understand the far-reaching consequences of of their words,” he said.
