Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba says President Edgar Lungu has summoned that country’s opposition leaders Mmusi Maimane and Julius Malema for a meeting.

In a statement, Mwamba said he had been instructed to set up a meeting with the two leaders who had been making disparaging remarks about Zambia.

“Zambia’s President, Mr. Edgar Lungu has summoned for a meeting, opposition leaders in South Africa who have been making remarks against Zambia. President Lungu said this when he was welcomed by a cheering crowd upon arrival at a named Hotel.
He said that he had instructed the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa to facilitate such a meeting with Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema and his Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane during his stay in South Africa,” read the statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Naomi Nyawali.

“He expressed concern that the two opposition parties appeared to disrespect the sovereignty of Zambia and had interfered in the domestic affairs of countries like Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
He said he was keen to engage the two opposition leaders to understand their concerns about Zambia.”

President Lungu said the two parties were creating a dangerous precedence that was likely to encourage political interference across borders.

“And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba said that his office had started the process of preparing for the proposed meetings,” read the statement.