By Staff Reporter
The ongoing recalls of diplomats is more widespread than announced, including PF cadres Brian Hapunda, Bangwe Naviley and others.
Well placed sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have told Daily Revelation, that some ambassadors made last minute defections to the UPND in the hope that the recalls would not touch them.
Sources said some ambassadors and diplomats are trying to sit on their recalls, to delay their coming to Zambia even when the letters sent to most of them are to return to the country with immediate effect.
“Don’t read too much into what some of those are projecting outward, these recalls have actually hit them hard, with some even attempting to sit on their recalls. For instance what happens is that when a diplomat is recalled, the Embassy must immediately set the recall in motion by collecting quotations from three or four bidding transport companies, and then have those sent to Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Lusaka,” the sources said. “But what has happened is that some ambassadors being bosses of those missions have not set this into motion since their recall letters were sent to them. Immediate effect must be immediate effect, but some of these ambassadors may try to use some maneuvers to stay on a bit, especially using the fact that the UPND is new in power and may not be too familiar with how certain processes are handled.”
Information reaching Daily Revelation indicates that, alongside the others ambassadors whose recalls have been announced, several other recalls have not been announced, including those for renowned PF cadres Hapunda (First Secretary political and administration) and Naviley (Press Secretary, India). Wallen Simwaka (Press Secretary, New York) is also said to be coming back home.
“For instance in several missions like Brussels, Belgium for instance, apart from the Ambassador, four other diplomats are coming with him. In places like Ethiopia, Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba is not the only one coming,” sources said. “And it should also not be lost on you that among these diplomats coming back, one of them came with experts who were due to rig the elections.”
Efforts to speak with Foreign Affairs permanent secretary (administration) Ronald Simwanza failed as his mobile phone went unanswered.
