Zambian opposition 'disgusted' with president

LUSAKA (AFP) - Zambian opposition parties said Friday they were "disgusted" with President Michael Sata for accusing Western diplomats of meddling after their meeting with an EU envoy.

"We are disgusted by our president's reaction to our meeting. We consider that to be irrational and we hope the president will revisit his action," Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party told a news conference in the capital Lusaka.

The parties, which include the former ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy, argued that when Sata was in the opposition, he had been allowed to meet Western diplomats without the reproach from government.

"We have pictures of President Sata meeting different ambassadors and these pictures were in newspapers. Ambassadors are free to access information from any opposition leader. We are also citizens of this country," said Miyanda.

On Thursday, Sata accused Western diplomats of meddling after European Union country head Gilles Hervio held a closed-door meeting with opposition parties the day before.

Opposition leaders had expressed concern over Sata's decision to appoint Malawian judge Lovemore Chikopa to head a tribunal set up to investigate the conduct of three local judges suspended for alleged professional misconduct.

Since winning last year's election, Sata has launched a broad crackdown on corruption, which his predecessor Rupiah Banda's allies say unfairly targets the previous government.