Zambia accuses US ambassador of ‘tantrums’

In the latest development of diplomatic tensions between Zambia and the US over the imprisonment of two gay men, Zambia’s foreign minister has accused the US ambassador to his country of throwing tantrums. 

This follows President Edgar Lungu’s request for the US to withdraw its ambassador for criticising the jailing of two men in a gay relationship. Ambassador Daniel Foote said last month that he was “horrified” when a court sentenced the men to 15 years in prison. Homosexual relationships are illegal in Zambia. 

The ambassador later criticised Zambia’s government of wanting foreign diplomats “to be compliant with open pocketbooks and closed mouths”. 

Zambia’s foreign minister, Joseph Malanji, said on Monday that the ambassador had behaved in an “unprofessional” manner and accused him of threatening to withdraw aid. He identified Foote’s statements as “tantamount to questioning the Zambian constitution”. 

On Monday, Mr Malanji told the BBC “You cannot ask a government to make a decision at gun point – 'because we are giving you aid, we want you to do this' - you can’t”. 

Mr Malanji then expressed further incredulity at the diplomat’s actions, saying "We find it funny for an ambassador who is accredited to Zambia, who knows the dos and don’ts of the laws in Zambia, to have a press briefing condemning the judiciary.”

"We do not expect to have an ambassador to Zambia to have tantrums”, he said. 

Photo credit: Lusaka Times