Embassy retorts Sunday Times on its headline ‘Zambia’s President tries to kill opponent’

Recently, Hakainde Hichilema has accused Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu of trying to assassinate him. The news was fabricated in a different way by Sunday Times UK on February 10 under the title ‘Zambia’s President tries to kill opponent’. Such headline has brought tremendous criticism that compelled the Zambia High Commission in London to express disappointment to the Editorial Board of the Sunday Times UK.

Abigail Chaponda, the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambian High Commission in the UK said that they have since written to the Newspaper categorically stating that the article was malicious and did not portray a true reflection of the situation in Zambia, as reported by Lusaka Times.

“We feel disappointed that the newspaper sensationalised accusations made by the opposition leader and his political party. Such sensational headings are not just misleading but are in bad taste given the fact that the journalist did not verify her story,” Commission stated in the letter.

“We take exception to the fact that the newspaper saw it fit to publish false accusations, from the political leader against a sitting Head of State bordering on libel and slander,” the letter reads.

On the other hand, the Mission has suggested Sunday Times UK Editorial Board that the Mission appreciated and espoused freedom of speech and press freedom, the Mission felt the story had not been balanced and the publication should have given the effort to get the position of Government of Zambia and the police on the matter. The statement noted that the Mission is requesting for an urgent meeting with the Sunday Times Editorial Board to discuss the matter and future relations.