The Zambian representatives to the United Nations (UN) were today absent at a controversial General Assembly emergency session called at the request of Arab and Muslim states to vote on the condemnation of the decision by the United States of America to recognize Jerusalem as the future capital of Israel.
The voting took place after threats by the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, that Washington would remember which countries “disrespected” America by voting against it.
The United Nations General Assembly defied warnings from the United States and overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and calling on countries not to move their diplomatic missions to the city.
A total of 128 countries voted in favor of the motion, defying the threats — that were forcefully reiterated in an address before the vote by US envoy Nikki Haley — to cut aid to countries that opposed the motion.
9 countries — the US, Israel, Togo, Micronesia, Guatemala, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands and Honduras — voted against the resolution.
There were 35 abstentions, including a number of countries that had been widely expected to support the move, such as Colombia, Mexico, Malawi and Rwanda.
Another 21 delegations, including Zambia and Kenya, were absent from the vote.
Yesterday, US president Donald Trump supported his Ambassador’s position to cut aid to countries that would vote against the US position.
“I like the message that Nikki sent yesterday at the United Nations for all of these nations that take our money and then they vote against us at the Security Council, or they vote against us potentially at the assembly,” the president told members of his cabinet in the White House.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us,” he said. “Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us, we’ll save a lot. We don’t care.”
After the vote the US ambassador to the UN, Haley, defended the administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying the US had the sovereign right to place its embassies where it wished, and warned that America — the biggest funder of the UN — did not take kindly to being disrespected and paying for the “dubious privilege.”
“The decision does not prejudge any final status issues, including Jerusalem’s boundaries. The decision does not preclude a two-state solution, if the parties agree to that,” she said. “The decision does nothing to harm peace efforts. Rather, the president’s decision reflects the will of the American people and our right as a nation to choose the location of our embassy.”
“America will put our embassy to Jerusalem,” Haley stressed. “That’s what the American people want us to do. And it’s the right thing to do.” No vote at the UN will make any difference on the American decision, she declared. But this vote will be remembered, she vowed, when America is being asked once again to make the single-largest contribution to the UN budget or when “so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”
The resolution, co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen, called Trump’s recognition “null and void” and reaffirmed 10 security council resolutions on Jerusalem, dating back to 1967, including requirements that the city’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
It also “demands that all states comply with security council resolutions regarding the holy city of Jerusalem, and not to recognise any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions”.
He already started drinking…. this is a country of morons… its had to believe how Got concentrated so much stupidity in one country
Have you seen the people at UN Embassy in New York? Bulanda bweka bweka. They probably didn’t even know that there was voting. One key person has Zambian chicks in NY fighting over him, another was recalled for drunk driving….need I go on?
This is what happens when you have no foreign policy and eat everywhere like the PF govt…they know if they voted against Trump he would have immediately pulled the plug on those Millennium Water and Sanitation Projects.
Zambia can kiss goodbye to the relationship they have been trying to establish with Saudi Arabia…..No cheap oil and no market for skinny Zambian goats.
If the PF government really wants to associate with the middle East and the Arab world, they need to hate Israel…no state visits to Jerusalem and no hosting Israel-Africa sammit
Go to International Relations school and be educated !
@Nubian Princes, please dont expose your iliteracy online. What organisation is the “UN Embassy in New York” ?
Simbyakula is the guy who missed or was late for a candidate nomination who is now at the helm in the US. And who is Zambian permanent rep at the UN anyway? Waw this tells the calibre of PF. If Lungu had known he could have been on the next chartered plane but he’s also getting fatigued and he’s scared of Mnangagwa episode visit while he’s in the US. These guys are a bunch of Chipante pantes, Koswes and all.
Water and Sanitation Project even so inadequate. There are lakes in Lusaka when it rains.
Cowards and no better word to describe them!!!
Docile at home, and now exposing themselves even at international level. So they are fearing that Israel will take away their opportunity to host Africa-Israel Summit, which they have not even confirmed. Ni Zee…..
Ati “Imperialist and colonialist” have undercover program to remove current presidents and replace them with puppets from the West… A big lie !!! MYTH. So who is the imperialist, the USA? They threaten you with money, and you go undercover hiding instead of raising your voice.
At least if you had voted against the motion like Togo did, but staying away, hiding….???
THIS IS AN BEST DECISION PRESIDENT LUNGU HAS MADE IN HIS PRESIDENCY. NOT ONLY HAS PRESIDENT SHOWN IMMENSE CHARACTER AND SKILL DIPLOMANCY NOT ALIGN ZAMBIA WITH THOSE THAT DONT BELIEVE IN GOD. PRESIDENT LUNGU HAS WALKED THE WALK AND TALKED THE TALK.
BRAVO PRESIDENT LUNGU, JERUSALEM HAS,IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE ISRAEL’CAPITAL CITY. MAY THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISSAC AND JACOB BLESS ZAMBIA AND PRESIDENT LUNGU.
Are you sure? Have you seen the number of covered women in lusaka? Didn’t he say the flow of cheap oil will benefit zambia ?how many trips have these people made to moslem countries. The truth is these characters will borrow and eat with anyone without shame!
Typical of a Koswe govt. They do not know whether they are moving forward or backwards.If you don’t stand up for anything, you will fall for anything.
@AKASHAMBATWA: Those are lies, we are a Christian nation that should not judge other religions. This has nothing to do with the Bible because its Trump’s agenda. LUNGU AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN WEAKNESS. It’s all about AID (FREE THINGS) than the actual essence. SHAME ON YOU LUNGU AND Zambian Diplomat. We would have voted Again Trump’s Ideology because Not all Americans support this move…
He already started drinking…. this is a country of morons… its had to believe how God concentrated so much stupidity in one country
You need to repost your comment. You got had insisted of hard. You see?
I think this is a wise move from Lungu’s administration. For once Zambians’ tendency to be sloppy, late for meetings and even miss meetings will be a benefit here. We are known for that and can defend our absence. And after we have done that, we can still talk to the Arabs for their cheap Oil, Speak to the Jews for their Technology and keep the Jesus Pentecostal movement in Zambia happy, and Speak to America for the AID from IMF and World Bank.
Very clever, this “Humble man” Lungu is. Indeed the wise man from the East. I’m sure he is a good student of the book titled “48 Laws of Power”.
MMD Chief Bootlicker
“Very clever, this “Humble man” Lungu is. Indeed the wise man from the East. I’m sure he is a good student of the book titled “48 Laws of Power”.’
Well said. For once Zambia has acted well.
We are mindful of Matthew 25.31-46.
Why should the Arabs continue to use us when the odds are stacked against them? They are fake brothers.
Nothing smart here Lazy Lungu was simply going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place then forced to show his card so best solution is not turn up altogether. If he voted either way the implications would have bleak for him given that he is a serial beggar.
Tested and trusted strategy by the lawyer… Even when your appointment is announced loudly to the entire world you can duck the BBC interview and the UNGA.
Iyi yena iliko rather… So are we hosting the Israel-Africa summit?
Looks like even Kenya missed. We shall ask Trump to sound the Trumpet on who hosts. Cool solution
We are non aligned. Most of the people writing on this blog were not yet born in early 1970s when we chose to be non aligned and so will not understand what happened at the UN Assembly
What about the other countries which did not attend? are they also ruled by Lungu?
Unfortunately the Americans and Arabs are not as stupid as you think they are they will easily read into this absenteeism and a country that pretends not to take any position is more dangerous than one that is clear where they stand otherwise how do either side engage with Zambia???? Days of the non aligned movement are long gone …..
The stup.idity of this is that what Zambia is communicating to either side is that it can never be relied on to make a position so lobbying Zambia in the future may be a futile move and can not be trusted. Some of this voting a vote makes the difference. So I don’t understand those supporting this position.
foolish decision indeed Zambia , who benefits from the so called American money , you have your copper
, as the Middle East have their oil and use it for all . Just because you want to host Israel here , what benefit
, how many meetings do you hold here . Apart from allowances for the few civil servants who else benefits from this .
That was a smart move. One, we are on God’s great side, two money was saved for not sending unnecessary people to nonsense. Let the Israelis and Palestinians sort out their own personal family issues.
@ 4 Nzelu… cant agree with you more unlike some of the morons above who think have to oppose everything President Lungu does. for your info, this is game changer for Zambia and God will be on zambia and President Lungu’s side.
the palestians should just ask Jordan, saudi arabia to give them a chunk of land.
Just this one move, i see President Lungu going beyond 2021. Bravo ECL. Morons who dont understand issues surrounding jerusalem say what you want, ECL has done Zambia proud.
i also advise Zambians to stop listening too much to discredited and disgraceful news media houses like CNN,BBC and aljazeer that wanted Hillary to be POTUS.
Tonga was absent! HH and UPND better watch out kikiki
kikikikikiki to Zambians with no sense of humour. He means Tonga the country or Island country that is found in the PACIFIC ocean. It was also not there.
Showing the world we are too too clever even to abstain from a vote on somebody else’s business. That’s why Zambia has eternal peace – sivinthu uko kumwenye
We didn’t abstain, we actually didn’t show up at all. Absent! Not counted!
No doubt, Congo DRC’s absence is Genuine..they have a a war.
For Kenya and Zambia, their absence was Fake. Fake Fake Fake …They both just met Isreal Prime Minister last month. No balls and no guts . They want to eat from both sides. PERIOD!!!!
These are two smart countries.
Bwana your understanding of global politics is warped. Your hate for Lungu is failing your reasoning.
Cowards! With the morals of lice! Lungu’s people have completely no principles with weakness written all over their muzungu wanga faces. Just look at his meek buckteeth smiling for every muzungu he meets.
KK was a black man who never feared anyone. He spoke against Reagan and Thatcher who were supporters of apartheid and supported all UN resolutions for Namibia South Africa Rhodesia Palestine, Western Sahara to be independent
mwana… we had money with billions in reserves. We were liberating everyone we felt like liberating.
Now fast forward to today. We are dependant on these guys for aid and remnants of trade so why bite the fingers that feed you dude?
I actually applaud government for choosing to be absent. Wise move!!
@Mfuti stop looking for lame excuses. Countries poorer than Zambia like Madagascar and Mozambique turned up and voted against the US
The Ambassador was sleeping like your Mayor. He probably has a part time job working in McDonald’s.
This should be a lesson to countries like Zambia who depend on foreign aid because at the end of the day the countries who give us aid will always bully us and this is just the beginning of tensions amoung these powerful country so for how long are we going to play hide and seek. America is a country which claims to value democracy and truly if they are as democratic as they claim to be they would allow countries to demonstrate their democratic rights without being threatened.Zambia was in a tight situation here ladies and gentlemen and despite which party you support I think they did the right thing by not showing up. My question though is for how long are we gonna play this game because next it might be UK or China. kikikiki this was tough lol!!!!
Pls don’t insult me …. I…
u5 alabeja musankwa
The UN should organize an emergency vote on the miserable status of Misisi and Chibolya. GRZ needs to be taken to task by UNGA for its neglect resulting in very poor living conditions.
Abena Jay Jay.
You can run but you cant hide. I told you not to start me. By the way, you can now drop your overused and stale phrase ‘Wake up from your docility and study about self!!’ D!ckhead.
With or without US Aid, President Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is about the best thing that America has done so far and Zambia, being a Christian nation would do well to endorse it.
Jerusalem is a city which stands in paradigm with God’s salvation plan for mankind through Jesus Christ. It is not by the will of man that it has been re-instated to it’s rightful status – it is divine intervention:
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob;He will teach us His ways, And we shall…
… And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2,2-3
And you wonder why the Israelis look at you like filthy slaves.
The Israelites I mingle with have reverance for the Lord and those who love Him including my family and I. What unites us is not the politics of this world but the confidence in God and the life beyond this life.
When Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem the some jews(zealots) thought he had come to end Roman rule and they advocated for a violent take over.But that is not how the prince of peace came to establish His Kingdom.Even when he was born the scholars totally missed it- they thought the King would be born in a palace.It was men from the East who had the wisdom and knowledge from stars to know a King had been born.So I do not know how God will establish Jerusalem for Himself but I know His thinking is very different from mans(whether christian,jew,muslim..etc)
Nine Chale you’re making the mistake of equating Israel = Christian nation.No today Israel has Judaism as its religion and you mix with modern Israelis NOT the Isralites who are strictly the ancient Bible version .
Our people need awakening…if only the knew why the selfsame Israelis the worship despise black Africans. Really sad stating that so and so I mingle with likes me really sad docile human.
Wake up from your docility and study about self!!
Absolute nonesense!!! Judgement day will be very interesting indeed.The wicked shall be revealed….
JAYJAY… just shut it, you seem to be so consumed with your hatred for ECL that you cant differentiate dung from sensible things. just admit, on this one- ECL has done us proud. hate or like him, he has scored a clinical goal.
nine chile above, you are spot on dont let terrorists supporters discourage you,
@Jay Jay.
well said. The so called Christians in Zambia don’t even understand that Isreal is not a Christian nation (if there’s anything like that). They don’t understand that Israelis don’t like black people. They ignorantly equate Christianity to Judaism because whenever they’re reading the bible, the encounter the word Israel a lot and hence without thinking or trying to find out the meaning and what the current Israel nation is all about, they start worshiping Jews. I don’t like preaching hatred for any group of people based on race, gender, creed etc. but What I can clearly say is that Israelis (Jews) are racists to the core and they hate black Africans with a passion. That’s not say I hate them coz that will mean I am not different from them.
The tragedy of poverty. This is where the Green Party comes in.Zambia needs to reclaim its national pride.
1. COUNTRIES WERE ABSENT (02): Zambia and Congo DRC
2. COUNTRIES IN FAVOUR OF RESOLUTION (10): Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe
3. COUNTRIES ABSTAINED (2): Lesotho and Malawi
If your mother went ku toilet and you were not informed but only told that a PF leader did so UPND would condemn that decision. When told that it was actually their mother then they would stand breaking the wind with sorrow! Masters at condemnation. Tribal party.
Showing yellow by being absent during such an important vote just shows the cowardly nature of the ***** who runs Zambia.
Zambia should’ve openly and boldly stood with Israel and in fact GRZ should officially recognize Jerusalem as Israeli the capital.
Thats right my brother, may GOD almighty richly bless you.
Zambia should have done what is expected of a christian nation and that is to vote in favor of America resolution for the support of Jerusalem as Israel capital. Am very disappoibted indeed.
That was a Smart move by Zambia and that was a democratic way to go about it except that UPND sycophants like JayJay and others, will condemn anything that the Government of Zambia does because they are just bitter losers who subscribe to Group think…
If you are given a chance to choose between good and evil you don’t remain neutral . you choose what is good and that is to vote insupport of american stance on jerusalem period. PF govt why didn’t you, please.
Even on judgment day, you bet Zambia will inadvertently be absent! Imagine the threats threats KK and Nyerere received from the West for supporting liberation movements and they did not go ABSENT KOSWE MUMPOTO style. Mubuso wa Lungu ki mandwani. If you tell a real grown man there is a hyena outside that wants to eat him, he will reach out for his spear to face it. A coward will take cover like Koswe Mumpoto.
The fact that Zambia is a Christian nation doesn’t mean Israelis are natural partners. Judaism differs from Christianity.
@22…. Take your illogical logic to your backyard pit-latrine.
Zambia is a christian Nation and strangely Jews Deny and dont at all believe in Jesus Christ, Unlike Muslim who believe in Jesus as the promised Mesiah and a true and Great Messenger of Almighty God.
By Hiding away from the Vote Zambia actually chose American Dollars over the Love of Jesus Christ which is enshrined in the Zambian Constitution.
Anyway did it matter? No…
The entire world stood with the biblical Palestine and the Palestinian Christians and Not with Trump Dollars and IsraHell..
Au, Akashambatwa ki mutanganyo mani oku yambile mwa lingandwe, kauke wa potoloha kacacani! Esi mwendi Mundunyu mwa Pizana ni wena kele aku leka kweta.
Translated into English?
Bo Kulekamyo kubonahala kuli Aka utokwa tuso kapa kalafo kapa kutatubwa boko. Amumutuse kakuli luli WA lyangana!
I hesitate to praise or condemn the Zambian position on this vote because I fear that they were absent not intentionally but might not even have been aware of the vote. This is quite representative of the Zambia work ethic…we don’t keep time or appointments. So to praise Lungu or otherwise is neither here nor there. Our government probably didn’t even have a position on the issue to make a strategic position to stay away. If their intention was to stay neutral they would have shown up then abstained from the vote as did so many other countries.
What was Ngosa Simbyakula doing for him to have missed that meeting? That’s why we ‘ve got an embassy in America. If the President is not able to travel the Ambassador represents him. And by the way where is the President? He’s not been in the news for the past one week. Already on xmas holiday??
It’s not Mr Symbyakula to vote at the UN…Zambia has a UN ambassador in New York specifically for that purpose just like any other whilst Mr Symbyakula is ambassador to US and based in Washington dc…These are just basic facts
Just shows how ignorant the so called educated Zambian is. Result of using leakages to pass exsms.
@Zakeyo.
Well done for educating this cadre. I find it hard to believe that people start contributing to a topic without understanding the basics. How stupid.
Zambia has always been a non aligned nations member. We don’t take sides. Let the Israelis and Palestinians sort out their differences. It’s not up to Trump or any outsider to decide who owns Jerusalem. Late Mohammed Ali refused to go to fight in Vietnam saying “What has a Vietcong who’s thousands of miles away done to a black man here in Louisville? I ain’t gonna get involved in a dispute that has nothing to do with me.”
Israel want to forge a friendship of convenience with Africa and the Koswe government has fallen for it and stuck their neck out to host the Israeli – Africa summit. Look at the way they treat the so called black Jews from Ethiopia in Israel. They do have worked to keep the blacks out of Israel at all cost. Only the Koswe government can be hoodwinked into clambering for crumbs from under the table! Israelis are racists.
Zambia should come out forthright and support Isreal. for as long as we are called a Christian Nation, we know what jerusalem is to the Jews. Besides, Trump’s moves are all ochestrated by the Evangelicals of USA; John Hagee and the like. Maybe we are still watchingh the situation unfold and see the broader direction in which it will go. What i know however is that many more will hop onto trumps side. Their Admin is extremely hard nut to crack.
Let lsrael and Palestine come together and form one country and make Jerusalem the capital city.
According to credible news sources Zambia, Canada, Australia and Mexico are among countries that took no part in the vote, so what’s the problem with the Upnd supporters?
They are just bitter souls just like their Supreme Leader HH and they do not seem to understand why majority Zambians do not subscribe to their group think…
blabla hahahah you hit the nail on the head.
Today’s Israel is NOT God’s Israeli nation. They’ve run away from Christianity and beliefs.
Zambia has no doctrine but calls itself Christian nation.
Zambia has no character of Jesus Christ. And so is America.
Jerusalem is no capital of both Israel and Palestine.
They are both amputated from Christ Jesus.
Zambia should have abstained in true Christianity.
But ZImbabwe is srong. Despite their problems one would have expected them to cow down especially when it comes to finacial aid from US. Alas! they voted in favour.
No big deal. Can’t somebody even go to the toilet?
Weak leadership! Yes or No question and they vote maybe. About time our leaders start looking for ways to be self sustained so they won’t be intimidated by these big countries to do the right thing. What the Israelis are doing is illegal but get away with it coz America is their closest buddy
Alot of people commenting here about Zambian abstaining from the vote. There is difference btwn abstaining and absconding. Zambia absconded!! We did noy show up…..which does not make sense when we have a permanent rep to the UN in Lazarous Kapembwa. Where was he? Countries he did not want to vot because they are neutral, non-aligned etc
….showed up but did not vote. I.e
abstained from the vote. Unless we can be given a good explanation from our Min of Foreign Affairs of why we were not present, it makes me wonder what other resolutions or business at the UN we may be absconding!
25 countries were absent. Just to explain a bit how the General Assembly or the Security Council operate. It’s not everyday or all the time permanent reps attend the sessions. Just check how many countries and from which continent they came from.
This is why Chicken? Koswe ? Mumphoto was absent at the UN:
“Jones said: “What’s troubling for many of the potentially hit countries is that many of them have been affected by economic shocks over the last few years. Counties like Sierra Leone & Liberia, some of the poorest countries, & they are struggling after Ebola.Jones said: “What’s troubling for many of the potentially hit countries is that many of them have been affected by economic shocks over the last few years. That’s the case for many on the global south. Counties like Sierra Leone and Liberia, some of the poorest countries, & they’re struggling after Ebola. “Most of government debt is paid in dollars, so the rising value of the dollar & increased interest rates in the US has hit them too.”Among countries potentially worst…
”Among countries potentially worst affected include Zambia, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, Jones said.
With interest from the Euro bonds now coming in, ni lwanya lwakwa Noah bebele. And that’s when this fool called Koswe Mumphoto is contracting even more debt for you Zambian imbeciles!