By Patson Chilemba
All the diplomatic recalls were authorised by the President, says immediate past permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Ronald Simwinga.
Reacting to President Hakainde Hichilema’s assertion earlier today that among the diplomatic recalls he made, another official who was fired two days ago had another list to add to those recalled and replaced them with other people, Dr Simwinga dismissed the President’s assertion.
“All diplomats recalled were authorised. So we don’t recall diplomats without authority from the President. All diplomats recalled since August 2021 were authorised,” Dr Simwinga responded to Daily Revelation when asked on the statement from the President.
He said he did not listen to the President’s appearance on Radio Phoenix earlier today where the assertions were made. Asked if it was true he had gotten into an argument with Foreign Affairs minister Stanley Kakubo over a diplomats recall, Dr Simwinga avoided addressing the matter directly, only insisting that he did not know where the assertion was coming from, but that there were records to show that all the diplomatic recalls were authorised by the President, not only in this new government but in the previous governments also.
President Hichilema earlier today said he recalled some ambassadors, but somebody decided to recall other people without his authority, and replaced them with their own prepared list, saying he got wind of the matter and managed to sort out the person involved some two days ago.
