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Former Kasenengwa Member of Parliament, Sensio Banda, has urged Zambian politicians not to turn foreign policy into a platform for political patronage or partisan grandstanding.
Banda said diplomacy was a serious national responsibility requiring protocol, precision, and respect for international obligations.
He stressed that foreign policy should be guided by professionalism and adherence to established diplomatic norms.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Banda warned against unilateral political statements that risk jeopardizing Zambia’s diplomatic ties and international reputation.
“Foreign policy is not a platform for personal political gain; it is a collective national interest that demands discipline and professionalism,” Banda said.
He added that safeguarding the integrity of Zambia’s diplomacy was vital to maintaining international respect, investor confidence, and global partnerships.
“Diplomatic relations are anchored in international law and treaties, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), the UN Charter (Articles 2.1 and 2.7), and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969),” he said.
Banda explained that these instruments uphold principles such as diplomatic immunity, sovereign equality, non-interference, and the binding nature of treaties—essential elements of peaceful engagement among states.
He emphasized that foreign policy was the constitutional prerogative of the Head of State and is executed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—not by individual parliamentarians.
“In that context, the recent remarks by Mafinga MP Robert Chabinga targeting accredited diplomats constitute a serious breach of diplomatic protocol and governance norms,” Banda said.
He argued that Chabinga’s unsanctioned press conference blurred the line between political activism and official statecraft, overstepping his constitutional role.
Banda welcomed government’s distancing from Chabinga’s statements but questioned how the lawmaker was given airtime on national broadcaster ZNBC.
“If Chabinga was not authorized to speak on foreign policy, why was he granted airtime on ZNBC?” Banda asked.
He raised concerns that political actors could exploit state media to issue potentially damaging statements without official clearance, undermining diplomatic credibility and investor confidence.
Banda further noted that Chabinga’s remarks could fall under Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 40 of 2025, citing specific provisions:
Section 22 – Harassment and Humiliation: If interpreted as causing distress to diplomats, this could attract up to 2 years’ imprisonment or a fine of 200,000 penalty units.
Section 24 – Cyber Terrorism: If deemed to incite hostility toward the diplomatic corps, the penalty could be life imprisonment.
Section 14 – Identity-Related Crimes: If the MP’s remarks falsely implied official authority, the penalty could reach 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 1 million penalty units.
He stated that only competent law enforcement and judicial authorities could assess whether these provisions were violated.
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