Citizens First President Harry Kalaba has expressed concern over the conduct of President Hakainde Hichilema.
In the statement, Kalaba registered his “deep concern and utter disappointment” over President Hichilema’s recent public conduct, which he stated “constitutes a serious breach of diplomatic protocol and a disturbing interference in matters that are still active before our courts of law.”
The statement references President Hichilema’s recent address at a United Party for National Development (UPND) mobilisation event at Mulungushi International Conference Centre. According to Kalaba, during this address, President Hichilema “made public revelations about private conversations he has had with several heads of state,” including the Presidents of Turkey, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Malawi.
Kalaba identified as a particular concern “the President’s admission that he engaged President ErdoÄŸan to facilitate the coming of witnesses to Zambia in a case involving former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Joseph Malanji.” The statement notes this is “a matter that is still active before the courts.”
“This statement is not only ill-advised, but it is also a direct violation of the principle of separation of powers and judicial independence,” Kalaba stated. “The President’s remarks amount to undue influence and political interference in a case that is under judicial consideration.”
The statement further criticizes President Hichilema’s “decision to publicly disclose private and sensitive diplomatic conversations without prior consent or mutual understanding from the other heads of state.” Kalaba described this as a “serious ommission [sic]” that “reflects a worrying disregard for diplomatic norms and international protocol.”
Kalaba stated that “private diplomatic conversations are conducted in confidence to preserve mutual respect, trust, and strategic cooperation between nations.” He advised that if the intention “is to showcase his international contacts, the proper protocol is to coordinate with the respective offices, obtain consent, and allow mutual media coverage.”
“We therefore advise President Hichilema to exercise statesmanship and maturity in his public communications,” the statement concluded. “As Citizens First, we call for the restoration of diplomacy rooted in discretion, mutual respect, and national interest—not cheap political display.”
Harry please issues that will make us vote for you, you’re now being reduced to a mere journalist. Tell us what you’ll bring on the table and stop hallucinations about HH.
I agree with you Harry Kalaba needs to tell us what he will do if he is given the vote, because when he was given a “police permit’ to hold a rally in Linda Compound, he instead started talking about how ECL was being mistreated. But all in all, I am confident that he can do much better than the lamentable failure we are seeing now.
* bring
Again, Harry Kalaba seeking attention. You’re from PF, you left them because of being sidelined. You trying to defend the indefensible. Criminals are criminals, and the crime of taxpayers money is serious. In my perception, you’re colliding with criminals. Let’s just hope you’re not but you’re over reacting over the case that was investigated with proper channels. Be careful Kalaba.
He may have a relevant point
Although this is not the time
So far no opposition leader has advanced any convincing language on how they hope to come and turn the economy around. We had some hope in Tonse which unfortunately is being decimated by two young men, one giving himself the position of coordinator and the other appointing himself as disciplinary chair, positions which were never approved by the council of Presidents. You can’t wake up and start saying ECL approved, who gave ECL powers to approve anything in Tonse. We need an opposition which is focused
I agree with you Nehemiah, seeing the new Zambia we want party saying on TV that we will come and do what Zambians want and tell us to do, i felt sorry for them, you mean you dont know what Zambians want, and also looking at St John Sangwa who came out as one who needed to go to a seminary than a politician, i felt sorry for him, For now, its only Mudolo who seems well grounded after all these Presidential galow ambitions of any jim and jack working up thinking they can be Presidents after seeing the current comedy
It’s ironic that Kalaba is questioning the President’s use of diplomatic channels to engage a fellow Head of State on a legal matter. This is precisely the role of diplomacy—quiet, strategic engagement at the highest level. The problem arises when individuals like Kalaba, who lack formal diplomatic training and operate purely as political actors, misinterpret standard statecraft as interference. This confusion shows why professionalism matters in foreign affairs: without it, every strategic move is wrongly politicized.
Sata collapsed and briefly died in. a New York hotel missing his address to the UN General Assembly. The man died less than a month later. Now, this ka tubulu Kalaba was minister of Foreign Affairs, why did he allow the parading of a dying man embarrassing us like that!