IT’S TREACHEROUS
to leak confidential information obtained in the line of duty as diplomat
It is something else if they have picked information from the street or from hyper informers. But when they get information from the host Government through a consultative formal meeting, they are bound by the rules of the international etiquette of keeping such matters confidential,” — Katele Kalumba.
IT IS treacherous for any diplomat to leak confidential information that comes in their hands through formal contacts with host Government, former foreign Affairs Minister Katele Kalumba has said. And Dr Kalumba said no sane person or country should take pride in the sudden withdrawal of assistance that is given to the poor. In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Dr Kalumba said there was need for diplomats to observe the principle of confidentiality, failure to which the relations between states would become very difficult to manage. Dr Kalumba who is also former finance Minister in the MMD regime under Dr Frederick Chiluba was reacting to revelation that a confidential briefing by the Zambian government is behind the precipitate decision by the British government to recall £2,762,196.68. The formal briefing was apparently the source of leaked information published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Africa Confidential alleging massive looting of donor funds meant for the poor by the Government to fund its budget deficit, while another amount was syphoned through corruption. Dr Kalumba said sad that formal exchange of information by the host Government to a diplomat was leaked when it was supposed to be treated with the highest possible level of confidence. “The idea of relations between States is deep-rooted in the principle of sovereignty of States. Now, within that, there are particular values and principles including that which governs relationships between sovereignty states and one of it is that they have to share confidential information. “If in international relations, we lose the principle of confidentiality, then the relations between states will become very difficult to manage. In fact it is treacherous to leak confidential information,” Dr Kalumba said. He added, “If the United Kingdom can allow itself to behave in a manner we may call too common, a manner that might be too treacherous, there will be loss of integrity in the relationships constituted within the institution of the Commonwealth.” Dr Kalumba explained that commissioners and ambassadors were supposed to be men and women of integrity who vowed to respect information that come in their hands through formal contacts with host Government. He said the formal exchange of information by the host Government was supposed to be treated with the highest possible level of confidence. “It is something else if they have picked information from the street or hyper informers but when they get information from the host Government through the consultative formal meeting, they are bound by the international rules of keeping such matters confidential,” Dr Kalumba said. Dr Kalumba however, hastened to suggest that since the error was made, there was need for Zambia and the British Government to resolve the matter amicably in a diplomatic way. “I must hasten to add that errors in diplomacy do happen because diplomacy is conducted by human beings bound to make mistakes but what is important is for damage control when such errors have been made. So I am calling upon the two government s(Zambia and Britain) to use all their diplomatic instruments available to manage the damage that has been created by this unfortunate breach of confidence. “Mistakes in diplomatic contacts do happen but what we should not allow is to let it get out of control. Damage has been done but let us control it,” he said. And Dr Kalumba said it was morally wrong for the British to demand for £2,762,196.68, money meant to help the poor when the Zambian government was doing everything possible to correct the situation. “If the bulk of our people remain in abject poverty, it will not take long before Zambia plunges into a chaotic situation which will be of no good to the British Government. We are talking about the money that would cushion social order which everybody agrees is a good thing to do. Dr Kalumba said, “I am convinced that the British mean well for Zambia but they should not allow individuals’ weaknesses or institutional fears to completely fracture the foundation of our relationship.”
If the United Kingdom can allow itself to behave in a manner we may call too common, a manner that might be too treacherous, there will be loss of integrity in the relationships constituted within the institution of the Commonwealth.” — Katele Kalumba.