The recent outburst by expelled PF Mafinga Member of Parliament, Robert Chabinga, is not just disgraceful—it is a national embarrassment of the highest order. His inflammatory and reckless tirade against foreign diplomats, laced with veiled threats against their families and calls for their expulsion, represents a shocking assault on Zambia’s international standing, its democratic values, and the rule of law.
This is not mere political rhetoric—it is dangerous incitement that could easily be mistaken for a state-sanctioned position. And therein lies the danger. Given Chabinga’s known ties to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), his statements risk being interpreted as a proxy message from President Hakainde Hichilema himself. Chabinga lacks both the authority and the intellect to independently formulate such a grave assault on international diplomacy. His words will be read in foreign capitals not as the rantings of a political nobody, but as a troubling signal from the corridors of power.
No patriotic Zambian—let alone a former lawmaker—should ever resort to this kind of incendiary, contemptuous rhetoric. His appeal for the President to become “more lethal” in handling perceived political enemies is not just chilling; it is an authoritarian fantasy wrapped in democratic garb. His suggestion that diplomats and their families should be expelled or targeted betrays a dangerous blend of ignorance and malice.
This is not how a civilized nation conducts itself. If a diplomat has acted outside their remit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation knows precisely what channels to use: diplomatic note, formal complaint, or—if justified—declaration of persona non grata. What is not acceptable is for a failed politician to take to public platforms issuing threats in the name of patriotism.
Chabinga’s behavior is a textbook example of gross misconduct. His speech was a toxic cocktail of paranoia, populism, and political thuggery. Worse still, his proximity to the ruling establishment casts a shadow on the government’s own posture toward foreign diplomacy. Is he speaking alone, or is he the trial balloon for a more sinister agenda?
President Hichilema must act swiftly and decisively. In matters of international diplomacy, silence can be mistaken for complicity. A categorical disavowal of Chabinga’s remarks is not optional—it is essential. Anything less will damage Zambia’s image and raise doubts about the President’s commitment to the democratic principles he so often espouses.
Let us not forget that Zambia is a proud signatory to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Threatening diplomats and their families is not only morally repugnant—it is a clear violation of international law. If we allow such behavior to go unpunished, we risk becoming a rogue state in the eyes of the international community.
Zambia must not surrender its democratic soul to loudmouths and political misfits. Chabinga must be held accountable, and the law enforcement agencies must make their position clear. Anything less would be an endorsement of lawlessness.
Enough is enough. The rule of law must prevail.
