Zamiba’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba says that country’s opposition leaders Mmusi Maimane and Julius Malema have accepted an invitation to meet President Edgar Lungu.

In a statement today, Mwamba said President Lungu wanted to hear their grievances directly.

“I wish to confirm that we contacted the political parties telephonically and proceeded to make formal written requests. The two leaders have in principle accepted to meet His Excellency President Edgar Lungu in Pretoria or Lusaka even at short notice or day suitable when the President is available to meet them,” Ambassador Mwamba said.

He further said the Head of State was wondering why the duo was always interfering in the affairs of other countries.

“When he addressed Zambians based in South Africa, President Lungu wondered why the two Opposition leaders have been interfering in the sovereign standing of many countries in the region including Lesotho, Swaziland, Congo Democratic Republic and Zimbabwe. He said political parties from the SADC Region do not involve themselves in South African politics and affairs and wondered why it proved an exception to political parties in South Africa,” read the statement.

“Maimane and EFF Leader Julius Malema have have issued numerous statements on Zambia in recent months. The Zambia High Commission in South Africa has since written to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO),l on the meeting with the two opposition parties. Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba confirmed that the two opposition leaders had accepted the invitation and were now waiting for an opening for the meeting on the sidelines of the SADC Summit. The President holds a view that instead of undefined grievances the opposition issued to the media he would like to hear them directly.”