HH`S OUTBURSTS ABROAD MISPLACED
OPPOSITION leaders should not draw the international attention and diplomatic community in Zambia`s internal affairs as there is absolutely no need to do so, a former diplomat has said. Recently, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema complained in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that the SADC and South Africa in particular had paid a deaf ear over his complaints against President Edgar Lungu and his Government.
Earlier, he had protested to the United Nations (UN) that UN resident Coordinator in Zambia Janet Rogan had interfered with the country`s electoral process, a claim which the world body has since dismissed. Former Deputy High Commissioner to Namibia Dorothy Nachilongo said in Ndola yesterday that it was illogical for Mr Hichilema to drag Ms Rogan in unsubstantiated allegations. Ms Nachilongo said the opposition leader should refrain from harassing diplomats because the tendency had the potential to dent the country`s reputation.
She also lambasted Mr Hichilema for seeking international attention on matters that did not warrant such a stunt.
Ms Nachilongo said diplomatic etiquette demanded that any issues surrounding diplomats must be dealt with on a Government-to-Government basis.
“It is against diplomatic etiquette for any leader to attack a diplomat in the manner Mr Hichilema did. Mr Rogan is accredited to the Zambian Government. Therefore, any issues must be dealt with through Government channels,” she said.
She said during her tour of duty in diplomatic missions in Kenya, Ethiopia and Namibia, she had not witnessed the kind of desperation and disrespect being exhibited by some politicians.
Ms Nachilongo said the opposition leader`s actions amounted to harassment of a diplomat duly accredited to the Zambia and that such action had the potential to dent the country`s image.
The complaint about Zambia through The Guardian, she said, was equally misplaced and aimed at attracting unwarranted sympathy.
She said a strange pattern had emerged in which some politicians would raise unsubstantiated allegations on the international platform without due regard to the country`s image.
Ms Nacholongo regretted that the same political leaders that were raising issues outside the country were not willing to dialogue locally.
“if there are issues, the best way is to bring them to the table locally here. Attacking diplomats and complaining to the outside world will not resolve anything, assuming that there is a problem,” she said.
She advised the UPND, National Democratic Congress and Mike Mulongoti`s People`s Party to come to terms with reality and agree to dialogue with the Patriotic Front in a sober manner.