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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 18, 2001

Zambian President Accuses Western Countries of Funding Opposition Parties

Zambian President Frederick Chiluba Saturday accused western nations of funding opposition parties in the country to foster a puppet regime.


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Zambian President Frederick Chiluba Saturday accused western nations of funding opposition parties in the country to foster a puppet regime.

"Most of the countries that colonized African states, including Zambia, are the ones that are trying to fund opposition political parties in order for them to create puppet governments that they can control," Chiluba addressed a campaign rally in Kabwe, 150 kilometers from Zambia's capital of Lusaka.

"Why should they manipulate Africa? Why should they want to create puppet governments? I urge you Zambians to refuse to be led by such leaders who have no interest of the country at heart because you should ask them what are the conditions for the funding."

The Zambian president, who described the action as "political interference of the worst order," cited the raging Zimbabwean land crisis as one example of how the western "imperialists" were trying to find their way back into Africa and re-colonize it after surrendering their colonies several years ago.

In an apparent reference to the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader, Christon Tembo, Chiluba accused his former vice president of betraying the cause of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) that refused to accept external funding in the first multiparty elections in 1991 when it wrestled power from former president Kenneth Kaunda's government.

"Someone has accepted to receive external funding because he wants to be a puppet leader. I urge you Zambians to denounce and refuse to be led by such governments and try to maintain and safeguard your independence that you fought for in 1964," said Chiluba.

The Zambian government has repeatedly accused western donors, including Britain, for funding the opposition ostensibly to cause internal strife in the country that has experienced peace since independence in 1964.

The British and U.S. governments have denied the allegation of funding the opposition to undertake such clandestine activities.




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