Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Ardar has refuted a Post news story that western ambassadors who recently met UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema wished the opposition leader well in the upcoming general elections.
In a letter addressed to Post Newspaper Managing Editor and obtained in Lusaka, Ambassador Ardar said the language used in the article was misleading.
He said he received an invitation from Mr Hichilema and out of respect he honoured it adding that it was not a visit but merely honouring an invitation.
Mr Ardar said his participation to that particular event should not give any impression of endorsement of anything in the upcoming elections.
He said he did not lead anybody to any function as all the invitees are all respectful representatives of different independent countries.
“As the senior Ambassador among the invitees, I thanked the host and wished him good lucky,” Ambassador Ardar wrote.
He has since asked the Post Newspaper to push the correction at the earliest. The Post in its edition of 22nd February 2016 reported that diplomats accredited to Zambia last Saturday visited Mr Hichilema at his residence in Lusaka and wished him good luck in the August 11 elections.
The article said the diplomats were led by Turkish Ambassador to Zambia Ahmet Ardar and included US envoy Eric Schultz, Bernd Finke of Germany, Timo Olkkonen of Finland, Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Koinuma, South Africa’s High Commissioner Sikose Ntombazana Mji, Filipo Scammaca from Italy and European Union head of delegation Alessandro Mariani.
Other diplomats accredited to Zambia from Britain, India, Norway, Italy, Brazil, Ireland, Sweden and Canada were also part of the delegation
Speaking during a luncheon hosted for them, Ambassador Ardar, who spoke on behalf of all the diplomats present, said the international community would pay attention to the concerns on several issues raised by the opposition leader.
Muslims lie not because they are liars by nature but by choice. Systematic lying as a religious policy is deadly, and if our politicians do not understand this, thousands could die.
Wishes are for making Princes out of frogs!
But what is wrong with wishing HH well in August polls? Ambassador or not Ambassador.
So what ba Lusaka time? Is it wrong to wish someone well or does it mean one ha already won? Politics ya pa zed. Twists and turns..
This man is sick he denies in the same breath says I wished him good Luck what is the difference between well and Good luck ?
SNITCH! Typical Arab mentality, never trust someone from the middle east, he just worried turkey might lose out on the dollars Zambia is spending on importing power from that geneset ship docked at nancaala port in Mozambique.
Ba HH, so you just dragged these people to your place in order for you to twist the story in your favour? Mind you these people dont vote neither do they campaign for any political party….start talking to the real voters…time is running out on you!
Kikikiki…..yaba,under five politics……HH made it seem as if the diplomats originated the visit when it was him who invited them……..pwa ha ha ha ha.
And Christians its this foolishness that doesnt take you nowhere.
Wake up!!
you must be a very stup!d PF cadre to believe this!!!how can be a Turkish ambassador be senior, when there was USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Germany, Japan, Finland, Britain???????,,
Then this HH must be very powerful he is able to sale the mines and other national assets as accussed right under the nose of a sitting government and he is able to bring in fighting in the MMD without so much as uttering a word and now all powerful diplomats somehow just all accepted his invitation ….dragged to his hypnotic mansion by some spell …. Hehehehe Zambians bwafya even the educated are so gullible it makes me sick … I still hear stories of people selling their years to get rich WTF!!!!
Then this HH must be very powerful he is able to sale the mines and other national assets as accussed right under the nose of a sitting government and he is able to bring in fighting in the MMD without so much as uttering a word and now all powerful diplomats somehow just all accepted his invitation ….dragged to his hypnotic mansion by some spell …. Hehehehe Zambians bwafya even the educated are so gullible it makes me sick … I still hear stories of people selling their years to get rich WTF!!!!
# NDOBO
If you don’t know anything about Diplomatic Protocol, shut your mouth.
The Turkish ambassador is the senior diplomat because he is the longest serving diplomat in Zambia among the people that attended the funation. It’s makes no difference if the USA is a super power.
This is why he lead the delegation. It makes him senior to have saved in Zambia longer.
“As the senior Ambassador among the invitees, I thanked the host and wished him good lucky,” Ambassador Ardar wrote.”
Please stop wasting our time, next piece please!
Thank You
AGONY IS BEGGING DIPLOMATS TO VISIT YOU AND WHEN THEY DO U CLAIM THEY FOLLOWED YOU COZ U ARE THE SO CALLED “POTENTIAL LEADER”. HH SUFFERS FROM “EXTERNAL LOCUS OF IDENTITY”
“As the senior Ambassador among the invitees, I thanked the host and wished him good lucky,” Ambassador Ardar wrote.
From your own letter Mr. Ardar, you thanked and wished HH good luck. It’s not a crime or bad thing to regret doing. I don’t see what the fuss is for fcuksakes!
The Post presented the story perfectly fine. Wishing someone “good luck”, “all the best” , “wishing you well”, all convey the same message.. Its okay Ambassador, you didn’t do anything wrong. Its the PF leadership that are panicking.
You visit a presidential hopeful, be it HH or Nevers Mumba, Kabimba, Sampa even president Edgar Lungu himself and the person discusses with you his vision and the huge task ahead to do win the election and then when you leave you don’t wish him success. Does that make sense at all? Or is he trying to say that diplomats can only wish the ruling party success and not opposition parties? Nonsense! Some white diplomats are dull. After it was communicated already that HH was a strong candidate which confirms the Post story is true. Why didn’t he argue that they haven’t said HH is a strong candidate as this undermines EL and PF?
Ahhh, the chap “LOOKS AFRICAN”, it seems he received the WRONG INVITATION!!, next time we will send him SMOKE SIGNALS!!
Muslims may appear very sincere; in fact, they are sincere, when they lie for their own protection or in the cause of Islam. They have permission to lie. Yes, Christians have also lied but never are they given permission to lie. However, a Muslim has no guilt since the Koran and Hadith permit his deception.
gtobal evem ambassadors dont understand what they say
Wishing a politician good lucky in an election year, is wishing him well for the elections. Bwana diplomat you are feeling the him from Kalaba’s office, just be man enough and stand by what you said. Though you have said it again in the statement below;
“As the senior Ambassador among the invitees, I thanked the host and wished him good lucky,” Ambassador Ardar wrote.
….feeling the heat…
Hakainde and The Post are truly in bed now. HH is the worst possible alternative to PF. Better PF continues in power mwe.
@ Milo Chooka…I cannot be surprised as any other PF cadre like you are very dull, your IQ is even lower than that of a headless dark horse …You are the cunts who cant even see beyond your filthy nostrills….
The same Post promoted kaponya president Sata. Did you complain then.
FACT: HH invited Western Diplomats to his house for breakfact.
FACT: The late Michael Sata in opposition or the incumbent ECL have never sought Western diplomacy in their homes. Never ever.
Seriously, that is your contribution? Why do you have such an inferiority complex?
MILO CHOOKA YOUR PARENTS ARE THE WORST TO GIVE BIRTH TO SUCH A PERSON OF YOUR CALIBRE OR ITS THE MATTER OF A EXPIRED CONDOM USED.
This meeting has really shaken the PF looks like.
The diplomats are slowly realising the overstepping of the boundaries that they did. Another diplomat will soon come out and give us his view. I dont expect the American ambassador to be remorseful as he knows his term is coming to an end as soon as Obama leaves office
Is English an official language in Turkey? Lets find out first before we attack the diplomat.
It is Turkish…
Oftentimes we spend too much time on non-issues and end up losing focus on the real point. How many valid votes can the diplomats offer a candidate by oral endorsement? Do not focus on the spectators at the expense of the players. Real endorsment is vested on you on the material day. Lets learn to rise above cheap political propaganda.
“when some one is searching for some one or something,anybody or anything resembling who or what they are looking for becomes it!” Surely,wishing someone luck is a common phrase we all use regardless of whatever they may be thinking or doing. We sometimes say I wish you the very best or sometimes they say “…wishing you all the best in your future endeavors”. For HH and his supporters,the thing they are looking for is an election win so even if someone uses a general phrase of wishing him luck,for them it becomes it- an election victory that they are looking fore! So the statement the Ambassador has used is open to general interpretation depending on what one is looking for! But one thing they have not denied is that they said he was a strong candidate!
Tayali(2016:2) Chilufya Tayali
At one point I used to talk to HH but our relationship went sour after his condescending, ridiculing and tribal remarks against me. HH attracted me from afar but when I got close I came to know the real person. These are facts not fabrications if he wants he can refute what I am writing here.
I really doubt if HH has any ounce of principle, because the man goes with what is convenient according to his selfish motives.
I think if HH realized that many Zambians eat monkeys and not beef, he would take pictures of himself eating a head of a monkey.
sorry kasabwe for going into your style of siting Chilufya tayali without your permission
Whether he invites them again the fact is that he will retire after August 11 mark my words. It is very difficult almost impossible to remove a working government like PF. The good work will speak for them people are able to see tangible results everywhere you go in our country.
The statement from the Turkish ambassador reveals the following: that the ambassadors were invited by HH; that the diplomats accepted the invitation out of respect for HH; that the visit was not meant to be an endorsement of HH; that the Post newspaper misrepresented the event; and that the Post should therefore correct the wrong impression created that the diplomats’ visit was an endorsement of HH’s candidature in the August 2011 elections. Is this too complicated for the highly educated UPND fanatics to understand?
HH I need also invitation from you.
@Arcadas You may want to state the verse of The Holy Koran which justifies lying if you don’t want to start sounding like a Trump parrot. For your further benefit, while still looking things up, you could also check on diplomatic procedures concerning seniority of envoys, to enlighten yourself on why the Turkish envoy spoke at the said luncheon. Hopefully you will later check issues before commenting, so that you protect your ignorance.
The first cut is the deepest. . It is a FACT that ‘HH is a very strong candidate’ and is first choice for majority zambians.
He repeats that he wished him luck. Where is the problem. Maybe what the Post repeated is slightly misleading but this whole hullabalo is because of panic in MMD and PF. They should not visit opposition leaders in groups if they don’t want to be misunderstood. Don’t carry journalists also. Just a bit of advice Bwana Turkey ambassador.
These diplomats should have seen it coming unless they are daft. This is upnd who get intoxicated at mere visit of a white man. The good part is that the only thing they can do is to wish someone luck period. Us we will vote.
Extend the ka invite to the t chi mansion! We shall surely come. Free drinks, food, booze, and hopefully some tonga chicks
Zambians should give a chance to Tongas because without the Tonga, the economy will not do well. Tongas are the drivers of the Zambian economy just like a laptop needs drivers to work better.
Thank you
Its this mentality that makes UPND very unpopular, leadership is never a preserve of on tribe or grouping. Zambians will vote for a leader irrespective of ethnicity, tribe, race or religious inclinations. Instead sell your candidate (HH) on the bases of what he/she will do not which tribe he/she comes from. Mind you we have 72 tribes, with your mentality chaos may erupt if each tribe what to have a president! One Zambia, one nation.
HADOF HITLER HH AUMA KWEMPA ABASUNGU
Well done keep it up
Chabija yaluka nafuti but atleast wakulukako abobe nangu ukalusa ama election.
Pipo are asking is molin going to be yo running mate this coming erections if not form an alliance with muyokela to survive.
For these diplomats i ve given u two weeks i will communicate with yo countries as a ordinary zambian non partisan.
It appears u came to dinne not to work
inflation has gone to 22.9% bcoz of good governance and working pf govt……how i wish it continues so that upnd supporters suffers since others are comfortably enyoying the fruits of good choice in the last election…insults reflect the character of who u are or the family u are coming from….lets learn to work hard and improve our lifes…..
Bwana Turkish ambassador by denying that you didn’t wish HH well in the polls diametrically means you actually wish HH to fail in the polls.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t you cold Turk.
Let UPND enjoy the honeymoon before the wedding, since they are not sure if the bride will agree to go to church with them.
This is excellent. HH, this was a coup. Toy really beat PF to it. I wonder what will happen after your next luncheon with the same group which I understand is due shortly? Kaminamisa will urinate in his trousers!
Very petty for the entire diplomat, whether you did or you did not, same difference…..
I think its only in Zambia where these Ambassadors have belittled themselves to be visiting non entity opposition party leaders in desperation of hiding behind trying to harmonies the Zambian political situation and elections coming.
Yes Edger Lungu met our western ambassadors as he was the only senior most representative of the Government as Minister of Defence and PF Government senior most Person after the death of President Sata I liked what Foreign Affairs minister has said not to expose them that its normal but which country or its ambassoder will now visit Mumba,Nawakwi,Chipimo,Kawimba,Sampa.
{ am appealing to all the Excellencies to visit all the opposition leaders to listen to their grievances.
Or the His excellencies must now tell the nation which opposition leader is next on their list of Visitations.
To avoid Taxes and because of being so corrupt the His excellencies have resorted to Underarm business which they are doing in Countries they do not respect Like Zimbabwe,Morgan Changirai,Malawi Homosexual Saga,and Now Zambia avoiding mineral royalty.
The President Must Take not of these ambassadors and send them packing for others to come so that they must report the truth to their country.I stay in South Africa and as a Zambian not at one time have i seen Malama being invited by the western Diplomats.
AFTER SELLING THE MINES ON A DISCOUNT AND AMASSED A LOT OF MONEY BY THE DIFFERENCE AND PRETENDED THAT i HAVE WORKED HARD FOR MY MONEY NOW HH WANTS TO PUT THE LAST LONG AGGRESSIVE SYMPHONY FINGERS IN THE POOR ZAMBIA BY USING BLIND FOLLOWER TO ASCEND TO POWER TO BECOME THE ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT
Guys, look at the bright side of life.
Who wants to be associated/endorsed by representative of murderous Islamic regime which has perpetrated genocide on its own Christian population?
As the senior Ambassador among the invitees, I thanked the host and wished him good lucky,” Ambassador Ardar wrote……………………..WHAT IS HE REFUSING?
People look at the substance and not the semantics. Luck is wished to even the worst of people and amounts to nothing. What is at issue is the insinuation that these diplomats flocked to this gathering of their own accord and as a show of endorsement, which the Turkish gentleman is denying and ordering The Post to recant. Nothing wrong with that unless, in their usual style, The Post can produce the incriminating evidence verbatim. This should be a very simple matter. Give the diplomatic corps a break and prepare for your elections unimpeded… They are your elections after all, and not the diplomats’!!!!
Refreshing to read a well thought out writing. Thanks Kalok
Naumfwo umwenso boyz gilrz naumfwo eh,eh x 2 HH continue with the same Spirit of uniting OUR nation. Why mulandila lyonse uwachita bwino ati wakwa………? Kano nga ebo.In Zambia, is it a CRIME to WISH someone good lucky?
How do those diplomats know HH is a strong contender? Have they carried any survey or it is because of his wine they imbibed so they want to appease him? UPND cadres get excited over nothing just a mere wish and they start jumping up and down, those envoys were like appeasing HH as a kind of respect for the food and wine, otherwise, they never meant a single a word they said.
NO WONDER, HH INVITE ME AS WELL SO THAT YOU CAN WIN MY VOTE. KANSHI MWALOMBELEFYE ATI BESE BAMIMONE, MWA TUSHINGA BUTTER. IYEEEE MUKASEBANA. I PITY YOU.
HH should be very careful with the Post Newspaper. It is not him who told the Post what to write but the Post wrote what they wanted to hear.
The purported marriage of convenience between UPND and the Post is not helpful to HH because The Post has lost influence on the Zambian political scene.
They are just a shadow of themselves. The ZRA issue has dented them very much because it has exposed them that they are just hypocrites.
Wishing someone well and supporting them are two different things.Honestly did anyone expect the envoy to say ” HH, I wish you badly in the August elections”
This was an I’ll conceived strategy by Fred that has gone so wrong for HH. Foreign Affairs must have known what HH was up to and knew it would backfire on them. You invite the diplomats only to claim later that they came at their instigation. What a sham, what a lie. HH is surely using GBM for advice!
Could not agree more. This is pitiful.
Turkey has been attacked by terrorists so this guy from turkey has been told by his boss to stop the nonsence he is trying to put himself into,the American can say anything coz he does not know whether he will be appointed or not and the one britain knows that things are not okay in england they are going for a refrendum on the 23 june so they are desperate wait and see
All what Edgar Lungu and PF need to do is invite diplomats to their chosen place and evaluate their reaction to that invitation.
Don’t see any logic in what you are saying. These people present their credentials to the president. They interact with the government continuously. by the way they are not that important for our democracy and their opinions are worth nil in choosing the next government