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| Leader of Zambia’s Socialist Party, Fred M’membe (L) is to run in 2021 presidential election |
Zambia has asked Cuba to recall its ambassador for openly supporting the newly launched opposition Socialist Party, the presidentโs spokesman said on Sunday.
Zambian Government Spokesman Amos Chanda said ambassador Nelson Pages Vilas spoke at the partyโs launch on Saturday.
Political tensions were rekindled in Zambia last month when the countryโs main opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), filed a motion seeking to impeach President Edgar Lungu over accusations of breaching the constitution.
The UPND challenged Lunguโs 2016 election victory in court, alleging fraud, arguing that that obliged him to hand over power to parliamentโs speaker until the court considered its petition.
Lungu has denied electoral fraud.
He directed that the Cuban ambassador be recalled โfor behaviour unbecoming of a diplomat,โ Chanda told a media briefing, adding that diplomatic ties with Cuba would be retained.
Reuters was not immediately able to contact the ambassador for comment.
