Harare New Ziana) – Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has fired several of his country’s ambassadors serving in foreign missions, including Zimbabwe.

Lusaka’s top diplomat to Zimbabwe, Emmanuel Chenda, was among over 30 senior government officials, including permanent secretaries, service commissioners and diplomats dismissed at the weekend.

Also axed were Zambia’s ambassadors to Germany, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Belgium, United Kingdom, China, India, Tanzania, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Botswana.

Chenda was not available to comment on his recall and dismissal.

But in a statement, President Hichilema’s special assistant and presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya said the dismissals were necessitated by the need to entrench a new culture of accountability in government.

“The President has terminated the services of some Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Zambia’s various missions abroad.

“The President says this is in order to foster a new culture of economic diplomacy underpinned by meritocracy, and to optimize the value derived from Zambia’s various diplomatic relationships around the world,” said Bwalya.

President Hichilema overwhelmingly beat incumbent Edgar Lungu in last month’s election after campaigning on a platform of anti-corruption and economic reform.

He has accused top government officials in President Lungu’s administration of looting, and has vowed to recover all stolen money and public property.

New Ziana