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Chitala's dismissal not justified, says Mususu

Chitala's dismissal not justified, says Mususu
By Speedwell Mupuchi and Chibaula Silwamba
Monday February 04, 2008 [03:00]

EVANGELICAL Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu has said that Mbita Chitala (right)’s dismissal as ambassador to Libya is not justified. Commenting on President Mwanawasa’s dismissal of Chitala over an article he wrote in the Libya’s Tripoli Post, Bishop Mususu yesterday said on the face of it, Chitala’s arguments on the need for African Union government could not justify the action against him.

Bishop Mususu said that Zambians and many Africans demand many things that frustrate their collaboration. He said that the European Union had done certain things like removal of visa requirements and putting in place a free market to the benefit of countries in that union.

Bishop Mususu said that it would be important within the framework of African union for countries to come to an open market so that no one had undue economic advantage.
“The gist of our union leaves much to be desired and that’s what Chitala is saying. From that very point, I don’t think that is the only thing that could lead to his dismissal,” Bishop Mususu said.

President Mwanawasa on Friday fired Chitala following his article titled: ‘The Federal Union of African States Must be Established Now’, which was published in Libya’s Tripoli Post newspaper. Chitala wrote the article in his private and personal capacity. The article was published as an editorial comment by The Tripoli Post which is essentially Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi’s newspaper.

In his letter to Chitala, President Mwanawasa stated that he was extremely upset with the article in which he described the type of African leaders on the African Union government as disappointing.

“You specifically named the Republic of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as cases where the people have shown their dissatisfaction with their performance,” President Mwanawasa stated. “You know that as Ambassador, you are not supposed to issue a statement of such nature without the authority of your foreign affairs minister or as the case is, myself. I regret to inform you that you are immediately recalled to Zambia and since I understand you are already in the country, you should merely return and collect your goods.”

Chitala vowed he would not abandon his beliefs in Pan Africanism because it was a matter of conscience for him.

“I have been a Pan Africanist for more than 30 years and I believe in certain issues of conscience,” Chitala said.

Meanwhile, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said Pan Africanism could not be avoided. Hichilema said the world was getting closer and African countries should come closer as well.

“This is a progressive process and for us as a country we have to join this process,” Hichilema said.

He said other than just coming closer politically, Zambia should utilise Africa as its market for goods and services.

“We have to have a bigger market to sale our goods to. We should be the net export to Africa,” said Hichilema.

Labels: BISHOP MUSUSU, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MBITA CHITALA, PANAFRICANISM, UPND

posted by MrK @ 6:19 PM