Zambia gives Cuban envoy 7 days to leave

LUSAKA, April 3  — The Zambian government on Monday gave the Cuban ambassador a seven-day ultimatum to leave the country following his public endorsement of an opposition political party.
On Sunday, the government decided to expel Cuban Ambassador Nelson Pages Vilas after he attended the launch of a new opposition party, the Socialist Party, and publicly pledged to support it.
Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda told reporters on Sunday that the Cuban envoy had breached diplomatic ethics, practice and standards by his action of supporting a political party as envoys were supposed to work with the government of the day.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji said the Cuban envoy had been given a seven days’ notice to leave the country following the government’s withdrawal of his diplomatic recognition.
He said the government will not rescind its decision to expel the diplomat because he flouted diplomatic etiquette by entangling himself in partisan politics and that the Cuban government has been requested to send a replacement, according to state broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
The envoy will not be allowed to engage in any official business pending his departure, he added.
The Zambian minister, however, told reporters in Kitwe city of the Copperbelt Province that the relation between the two countries would not be affected and remained sound. – XINHUA