Lungu wants Cuban envoy recalled

Barely 24 hours after presenting his credentials to President Lungu at State House as the newly appointed ambassador, Mr Vilas attended the launch of the Socialist Party where he allegedly pledged his total support for the opposition party.

Special assistant to the President for press and public relations, Amos Chanda told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that the Head of State had directed for the recall of the diplomat.

Mr Chanda said that the President had ordered the Ministry of Foreign affairs to immediately engage the sending State to recall Mr Vilas.

He said that Mr Vilas’ involvement in partisan politics was unbecoming of a diplomat and contrary to diplomatic practice.

Mr Chanda reiterated that a senior official of Mr Vilas’ standing ought to have known that diplomatic etiquette prohibited such behaviour.

“It is quite extraordinary that of all people the Cuban ambassador himself knows that in Cuba, the opposition is not just resented but is totally absent. It is expected that the ambassador would know that diplomatic practice prohibits that kind of behaviour,” he said.

Mr Chanda said that a decision had been made for the Zambian government to request the Cuban government to recall their ambassador for conduct unbecoming of a diplomat. He however clarified that the Cuban mission was still welcome in Zambia and that the request was just for the recall of Mr Vilas.

Meanwhile, Mr Chanda explained that an ambassador was accredited to the government of the day and not any political party.

He also pointed out that Mr Vilas’ pledge to support the opposition party contravened established diplomatic practice.

Mr Chanda charged that it was outside diplomatic practice for an ambassador to offer open support to a political party, not even the ruling party.