By Staff Reporter
Zambia’s former High Commissioner to Australia George Zulu says the conduct of Emmanuel Mwamba, Anthony Mukwita, Brian Hapunda, Bangwe Naviley and other diplomats who misconducted themselves, justifies President Hakainde Hichilema’s call to professionalise the diplomatic service.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Amb Zulu said he himself had served in the diplomatic service before, along with others, appointed by the serving ruling party at that particular time, but never had he seen such blatant partisanship exhibited by the mentioned diplomats, including the others who openly campaigned for the former ruling party, PF.
“That was unprofessional conduct for a diplomat to come and participate in campaigns. I was myself recalled from my diplomatic posting in Japan by Frederick Chiluba for hosting Dr Kenneth Kaunda. I was told I went to represent the interests of the political party MMD, I refused to accept that and I was recalled,” Amb Zulu said. “When you are a diplomat you are supposed to represent everybody. So it’s good the current government has indicated they will follow diplomatic professionalism. They (diplomats) should be organizing businesses for Zambians. We should not be allowing diplomats to come and campaign for a political party.”
Amb Zulu said the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should discipline Zambia’s ambassadors to Ethiopia and Germany, Mwamba and Mukwita respectively plus the others for breaking diplomatic and civil service norms to campaign for a political party.
“They were not supposed to come and start supporting a political party,” he said.
He said President Hichilema’s pronouncements had therefore come as a relief to the many professionals, saying this would would align with the President’s wish to promote economic diplomacy and therefore allowing the country to take its place in the international fora.
Amb Zulu said economic diplomacy was what was shaping trade involving bigger nations now, including the United States, European Union (EU) and China.
“Zambia must open up its economy to the world and pursue non-aligned diplomacy for the benefit of the country. Zambians in the diaspora must also be called to unite because already there is a diaspora policy. They must help in building the country,” said Amb Zulu. “Under the previous administration, foreign relations were full of scandal. We heard of Zambia’s involvement in Rwanda, Zingman stories, arms shipping to Libya and many more wrong things. I can only urge the new minister of Foreign Affairs to investigate these stories. If true, let the culprits involved that painted Zambia’s image black be called for their actions. I applaud the President for wanting to professionalise the foreign service.”
