RECALLED DIPLOMATS ARE ENTILTED TO 3 MONTHS REPATRIATION PERIOD-DR. NEVRRS MUMBA
MMD president Never Mumba has called on Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to give recalled Diplomats the 3 months period which the law allows them to pack and return home.
Dr. Mumba says it is indisputable that the President Hichilema has powers to recall diplomats and also to appoint new ones when there is a change of power or government.
But he urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow the regulations and allow 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”.
He dismissed assertions that Diplomats needed to return home with immediate effect.
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.
He however emohasised that dignity and the law must be followed.
“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.”