By KETRA KALUNGA
DIPLOMATS accredited to Zambia should know their boundaries and ensure that they follow the laid down channels of airing views on internal issues, former Foreign Affairs deputy minister, Gabriel Namulambe has said.
Mr. Namulambe said it was undiplomatic for envoys to comment on internal issues of sovereign countries.
He was reacting to remarks attributed to British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley over the alleged shooting incident involving the UPND president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema on the Copperbelt, which he described as unfortunate.
This was after the police had clarified that no live bullets were fired.
Mr Namulambe said in an interview that Zambia was a sovereign country with its own internal rules which should be respected by diplomats.
“Diplomats should know their boundaries, we are not a colony or foreign controlled country anymore, we have our own internal rules which should be followed,” he said.
Mr. Namulambe said the action taken by Mr Woolley portrayed him to be a supporter of the UPND which was illegal for any diplomat.
“If there is any complaint of any nature, the best thing he should have done was to write to the ministry of Foreign Affairs to inquire in the truthfulness of attacks on Mr. Hichilema because he is not a spokesperson for the police,” he said.
He said the British envoy acted in an undiplomatic manner and should therefore apologise to the nation for having gone out of his boundaries.
Mr. Namulambe added that the police did clarify that Mr. Hichilema was not shot at as alleged despite the UPND leader having gone against the traffic regulations of the country.
“If at all it was there, investigations can still take place through the relevant channels of this country, he said.
