The government has dispelled rumours of threats on United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote’s life following the recent comments he made over the jailing of a homosexual couple to 15 years in imprisonment.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji says the security of Ambassador Foote is guaranteed and will remain protected by the state.
Presenting a ministerial statement to Parliament today and monitored by ZANIS, Mr Malanji explained that Zambia and the USA continue to enjoy good relations.
He added that with regards to the matter concerning Ambassador Foote’s comments, Zambia will use diplomatic channels to address the issue.
He emphasized that the issue regarding the USA envoy cannot by discussed in parliament, adding that it is a diplomatic issue and Ambassador Foote will continue to enjoy his diplomatic immunity.
The Foreign Affairs Minister further stated that matters relating to the courts of law fall under the Judiciary, which is independent of the legislature.
And First Deputy Speaker Catherine Namugala allowed only one follow up question from Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo who was also the mover of the point of order.
Ms. Namugala guided that Zambia is a signatory to many diplomatic conversations therefore she was not in any position to allow the matter concerning Ambassador Foote to be discussed in the house.
Actually this is exactly what Foote was alluding to when he said the government does not want to let its citizens know about the corruption and strange things (I paraphrase) happening in governance. Awe shuwa. Just tell parliament iwe Mulanje. Diplomatic wa kuni?
They can’t discuss Amb. Foote’s statement because that would open a can of corruption worms. I hear you!
You scored your own goal PF! Pathetic Followers of a party in government that has subdued other tribal groupings because they did not buy into the ideologies of your leader are now seeing the wrongs of your leader and his stooges. You can fool some people sometimes but you cant fool all the people all the time. We just want a united Zambia with opportunities for every citizen no matter the creed, colour, sexuality, religion and ability. Do not mix religion with politics in the manner you did on the issue of homosexuality. If you read and research extensively you will notice that the animals you alluded to do actually have homosexuality tendencies too. Lets have compassion in understanding what is on stake here. Do not be judges for you will also be judged if not harshly. America – we are…
….sorry for our leaders’ uninformed stance taken on the matter. Yes, we have our own traditions and cultural beliefs some of which are quite archaic and really backwards. In the Northern Zambia, babies who grew teeth I think on the lower base first are known as “ifinkula” citation needed… and were drowned in rivers by tying a big stone attached to their limbs. In Southern Zambia, people’s mouths and ears were badly mutilated and huge logs inserted through huge piercings or teeth shaped and or yanked out. In most tribes, women were so looked down on so much that when they were widowed, the relatives of their husbands would take them as sex slaves (forced marriage) or grab all their possessions and leave them homeless and in abject poverty. Homosexuality is the least of our problems…
You scored your own goal PF! Pathetic Followers of a party in government that has subdued other tribal groupings because they did not buy into the ideologies of your leader are now seeing the wrongs of your leader and his stooges. You can f00l some people sometimes but you cant f00l all the people all the time. We just want a united Zambia with opportunities for every citizen no matter the creed, colour, sexuality, religion and ability. Do not mix religion with politics in the manner you did on the issue of homosexuality. If you read and research extensively you will notice that the animals you alluded to do actually have homosexuality tendencies too. Lets have compassion in understanding what is on stake here. Do not be judges for you will also be judged if not harshly.
The sad thing of all is the Opposition Alliance ( HH, Kambwili, Milupi) can not speak up for the disadvantaged. Our corrupt and incompetent judiciary and legislature keeping passing things that do not make sense oven to minor such as sentencing innocent people people to 15 years jail terms, terming Barotseland a colonial label when it merely means Bulozi, Bill 10 etc. In all these cases, our Mr. Hakainde is silent because it might affect votes. Well HH if you do not wake up, you will soon rise to a shock because Barotseland is a swing province which has moved from ANC to UNIP to MMD to National party to Mwanawasa, to Rupiah and now to UPND.
My foot! Muuze!
… what is at stake rather @ 1.3
This one common practice among some humble section chairmen muma komboni, when they have an issue with someone mu komboni, they say nizamungwena olo nalamunwina, so that when they take some kachasu they will come back mukomboni and spit all manner of unprintables, but such characters you wait until morning time, when they somber up, that’s when you inflict your punishment.
Ms. Namugala guided that Zambia is a signatory to many diplomatic conversations….
What has terribly gone wrong with Zambian journalism?
Diplomatic conventions and NOT conversations….journalism in Zambia has gone to the cats….internationally we have diplomatic conventions and protocols, never heard of conversations….
America protects its own. If u don’t know that , u don’t know the world u live in.
Hahahahahahahaha, your kwacha will take long to recover. how do you poison your water well?
Lazy bastards, why discuss that in parliament? it’s rain season, let’s go grow food.
Malanji knock it off, stop fantasising and writing love letters to ambassadors.
The Foonte story is passed, it was a fuxking loong week ago. Move on to Zambian matters.
Of course Ambassador Foote’s security is guaranteed No thanks to PF. But because he comes from a country that values its citizens and upholds the rule of law. And they have an extra bonus of being the most powerful nation on earth. Even PF is not so dull as to touch him because it would be ther end.
MAY I JUST APPEAL TO THE POWERS BE TO BRING THOSE PF THUGS,HOOLIGANS IN THE NAME OF CHOONGU AND OTHERS TO BOOK BEFORE THE USA GOVERNMENT SENDS THEIR FORCE TO PROTECT THEIRS.REMEMBER HOW BIN LADIN WAS FLASHED OUT,OUR ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE PRETENDING AS ALL IS WELL WHILE THE OTHER PARTY IS NURSING A WOUND BECAUSE OF PF CADRES BEHAVIOR.THAT’S HOW IT ALL STARTED WITH ZIMBABWE AND GADAFFI.
Obviously he is safe and will remain do including the embassy itself. Some things even PF cannot touch because they know it will just take one elite commando unit from there to overthrow this government should anything happen to their embassy.
Why do Africans overadmire the Americans? I lived in an Arab country and I observed the citizens were not as overawed with America the way blacks are. For Zambians everything starts and ends with America.
One commando unit to overthrow our government? Because we are mistreating Foote? What a fertile Imagination!
@Angels are It is a loser’s mentality. Siding with the bully because then he wont attack you
As if…..
I know p f are morons, but even their moronic behavior knows it’s parameters
After the posturing, it’s now time to eat humble pie…this is certainly not a great time to rub Trumb the wrong way with the impeachment issue heating up…
Why is Malanji’s tail between his legs now after so much hot air?
And what is the position of Chagwa over his Sky News embarrassing undiplomatic crude talk? Since you took the fight public, any damage control must be public as Foote dared! Don’t be Cowards and don’t comfort yourselves by f00ling yourselves that relations are okay when the wounds are still fresh! You have not even restrained your cadres from talking about things they don’t understand! The best way forward is for US to review its engagement with the PF party which is now behaving like a terrorist organization! You can terrorize Zambians with your POA and your extremist views but you cannot expect to terrorize Diplomats! Mwachepa sana! You are an embarrassment to Zambia!
“He added that with regards to the matter concerning Ambassador Foote’s comments, Zambia will use diplomatic channels to address the issue.”Current administration Diplomatic way; sweep under the carpet.
“These dissenting opinions are certainly not shared by state-controlled media such as ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail, and Times of Zambia. It’s time to advocate for a real voice for all Zambians and uphold a person’s right to freedom of conscience and belief.”
“Character Assassination refers to the slandering or vicious personal verbal attack on a person with the intention of destroying or damaging that person’s reputation or confidence. In other words it is malicious verbal assaults designed to damage or tarnish the reputation of a person.”
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
As if Foote did not take things public. Stop hero worshipping people – Foote and Joe are both wrong. Period – Foote went out of bounds to condenm a court ruling which was within existing laws in public media. Joe was also undiplomatic to react in such manner. Two wrong chaps
Why do Africans overadmire the Americans? I lived in an Arab country and I observed the citizens were not as overawed with America the way blacks are. For Zambians everything starts and ends with America.
One commando unit to overthrow our government? Because we are mistreating Foote? What a fertile Imagination!
State controlled DeadNBC has just been given another puppet to amplify his masters voice. Since he’s an engineer I wonder if he understands freedom of expression.
if my whlte wife no longer feels safe to visit despotic and dictatorial zambia under pf then you must be crazy to think any western person is safe to be there
if my whlte wlfe no longer feels safe to visit despotic and dictatorial zambia under pf then you must be crazy to think any western person is safe to be there
Of course, he is safe, with all that ka sacka ka ndalama the Americans give us you think you can say anything stupid? Kwacha is collapsing and you are broke, this is not the time to annoy the Americans, now sit down and do your work.
Taking into account the Deputy Speaker’s guidance in Parliament to the effect that “Zambia is a signatory to many diplomatic conversations”, the Zambian Government has demonstrated that Zambia is among one of the most civilized States in Africa. Even erroneous Ambassador Foote is assured of safety in this country.
Why not deport him like the Cuban ambassador who was deported on accounts of attending a political party launch
@ 14 Manyozo Banda…………….kikikikikikiki lol yaba let them dare…….
As if the PF can he even dare to compromise the security of the US ambassador,i think they know their boundaries and have censored their cadres very well,America is not malawi or cuba where you can push their ambassadors anyhow,let PF try if they are men enough!
In spite of the current on going talks between Mr Foote and The Zambian Government its not really that there is now enemity between the Zambian government and US government. The US ambassador can freely do his duties as we also continue carrying the mandate of being a haven of peace…
Bwana Foreign minister u and Dora were quick to blow hot air at Mr Foote via social media , the press, television ….now u r saying diplomatic channels. Dont play with America. u ll put us in more trouble. we hv enough problems as it is.