President Lungu and Kagame, during a visit in Kigali
Kigali: Zambian President Edgar Lungu has refuted local and international media reports that suggest he provided financial resources to a named Rwandan organisation to launch attacks in Rwanda.
President Lungu’s press aide Mr Isaac Chipampe stated that the allegations were false and that they should be treated with the contempt they deserved.
“State House has noted with great dismay reports in the local and international media of the alleged submissions made to Rwanda’s High Court for International and Cross-border Crimes that His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia allegedly provided financial resources to a named Rwandan organization to launch attacks in Rwanda,” Mr Chipampe stated.
“State House would like to categorically refute these claims and wishes to state unequivocally that these allegations are false and must be treated with the contempt they deserve.”
He added that government, people of Zambia and Rwanda continued to enjoy strong and fraternal relations founded on mutual respect and a common purpose based on shared values and principles.
The Rwanda’s High Court for International and Cross-Border Crimes sitting in Nyanza District on Monday reopened the trial of terror suspect Callixte Nsabimana who is facing 17 charges including terrorism and treason.
When the trial reopened, Nsabimana, who was a self-proclaimed ‘Major’ in FLN, a Rwandan rebel group, accused Zambian President Edgar Lungu of allowing them space to operate in his country to overthrow the Rwandan government.
It is not the first time Nsabimana, who was arrested and deported to Rwanda in April 2019, has accused Zambia of facilitating him and others to coordinate their activities. In his statement made before prosecutors, Nsabimana, named several countries including Uganda, Burundi and Zambia. (End)