By Oliver Chisenga
MMD president Never Mumba says it is indisputable that the President does have power to recall diplomats and also to appoint new ones when there is a change of power or government.
But he urges allowing recalled diplomats to exit with dignity and respect “by giving them the three months that is necessary for them to close their tour of duty and come back in dignity”.
Mumba, who once served as high commissioner to Canada, said there is nothing illegal or strange that after the change of government there would be change of diplomats around the world.
He said it is an international tradition that diplomats across the world are replaced in line with the new administration’s policy advancement.
“In terms of diplomatic service, when governments change and a new government comes into place, in our case one political party loses power and another one takes power, the international tradition is that the diplomats across the world that have been sent by the country are in effect changed to the extent that new ambassadors and high commissioners are deployed for the purpose of ensuring that the policies of the new government that has come into place are being relayed in a manner that is in line with the new governing party,” Mumba said. “So it is not strange that after the change of government there will be change of diplomats around the world. But I have to be very clear that it is a constitutional position and the President does have power to recall diplomats and also to appoint diplomats in different countries. So that is indisputable. There is nothing illegal if the President or the new President recalls the diplomats from around the world and replaces them with those he deems would carry out the policies of the new government. I think it’s important that we settle that one for once.”
He recalled that when he was high commissioner to Canada and as per tradition when MMD lost power, and PF took over, he was recalled.
Mumba however said although it was irregular to be recalled in just seven days after the MMD lost power, the decision to recall him was constitutional as the president had power to do what he did.
He explained that when the US change from
Republicans to Democrats and vice-versa there always a shift of diplomats especially the heads of missions.
“Those who work in administration could still remain but for heads of missions it is almost a foregone conclusion that they are going to be
recalled back to Washington like many other countries. So it is important to establish certain brutal facts. Brutal fact number one is that the new President has the constitutional right to recall ambassadors and replace them with that he deems will follow through the policies of the new administration,” he said. “No dispute about that but the challenge comes in when the President will now have to use his discretion if there is information given to him that the exercise would be too costly for the government at this particular point to afford. At that, the President will again use his discretion and decide which key mission stations are going to receive the first attention and be replaced. Then as the resources are made available would continue…and sometimes it takes several years before certain recalls could be made.”
However, Mumba said his advice as a person who served as high commissioner and Republican vice-president is that each diplomat who has a contract and it is unfinished then they should be allowed to
finish their contracts so that the recall is normal in the manner that it does not apply too much pressure on the treasury.
He said however that there are certain missions where there can be no delay as they are extremely cardinal and fundamental to the President and effectual running of the foreign policy in those affected countries.
“I see these things happening in major countries like the United States, Europe, South Africa and certain nations in which our interests are extremely high including the United Nations and also the African Union. So these are issues that the President will have to use his discretion,” he said. “The concern of anyone of us would be on the fact of how many should be recalled and do we have the money to do that. If the answer is that the money is not available now, then it is advisable that there is a wait.”
Mumba also noted that there are guidelines and standing orders on how to proceed with a particular exercise and in this case the recalling of ambassadors.
He said those that have gone “out there to work under previous administrations it’s under the assumptions that they are servants of the people and are in those countries in the name
and the person of the President and even when the Head of state change, the said description does not change”.
“For instance, when I was high commissioner I was there under president Rupiah Banda and when president Rupiah Banda left, Mr Sata became my president and now I became the personal representative of president Michael Sata in Canada. I know the people say Zambia, but the credentials that we present stipulate that I am there representing the President and it is very clear so it doesn’t matter whether presidents change or not,” Mumba said adding, “right now all the diplomats that are in their stations, their allegiance is to President Hakainde Hichilema as the President of the Republic of Zambia and are there in his name. And if they do anything there, they are doing it in his name. If they do an embarrassing thing they are embarrassing President Hakainde Hichilema. That’s the way the democratic story is told.”
He said diplomats did not send themselves out there but are there as the country’s representatives.
Mumba said although they belonged to the political parties that lost the election, it does not mean that they are less Zambian than anyone else who is going to replace them.
“They need to be allowed to exit with dignity and respect by giving them the three months that is necessary for them to close their tour of duty and come back in dignity,” he advised. “The reason why this is important is that the way a country calls back its diplomats has a lot to do with the perception that the receiving government will forever view that country. For instance, when I was recalled, there was so much zeal from the PF that they told me that you will have to come back now and I started to pack. But when I went through the standing orders, and also diplomatic regulations, it was clear that I have got three months in which to prepare myself to depart, bid farewell to the host country and the other countries I was representing which were about nine of them and that’s the procedure.”
He said when he was told to leave immediately, Canada was very distraught since he was also the president of the diplomatic association.
Mumba said Canada did not understand why the PF government would treat him in the manner they did thus wondered what kind of
president Sata was.
He said foreign affairs must ensure each diplomat is brought back in respect and dignity and not shame them for having gone there to
serve Zambia.
Mumba said it was important to follow recall procedure in order to protect the dignity of the nation.
“When the next batch goes there and when another president comes in, they are going to treat them the same way. We are all Zambians and let’s make sure we treat each other with great respect,” said Mumba. “It is very important to make sure that before the names are reflected in the media, the diplomats serving in many countries have already received their letters of recall. It’s only after that that you can start to throw their names in the media. Prior to that lets give them some respect.”