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Zambia Urges US to Respect Sovereignty
The Zambian government has urged the United States to respect the sovereignty of other countries and not to interfere in their internal affairs, according to Daily Mail newspaper on Friday.
The paper quoted government spokesman Vernon Mwaanga as saying that Zambia has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries.
Mwaanga, also minister of Information and Broadcasting, was Thursday reacting to reports on the Channel Africa radio station which said that the U.S. government has asked the Zambian government to grant Radio Phoenix the operating license and drop the charges against three persons who have been arrested for defaming President Frederick Chiluba.
He said that Zambia will not allow itself to be dictated by other countries, adding: "We have our own laws, I don't know why they are dictating to us. Do they want to encourage lawlessness in Zambia?"
The Zambian government closed Radio Phoenix, and an independent radio station, last Sunday for failing to renew its license which expired six months ago.
Former labor minister Edith Nawakwi, Post newspaper managing editor Fred M'membe and reporter Bivan Saluseki were arrested on Monday on charges of defaming President Chiluba. The three will be tried by a court in Lusaka in early September.
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