Malawi and Zambia in apology row

Zambia’s new leader has said he won’t visit Malawi until he gets an apology for being deported from the neighbouring country when he was an opposition chief in 2007.

In a nationally televised meeting this weekend with an envoy from Malawi, president Michael Sata – who has already shaken up politics at home since winning elections last month –turned down an invitation from Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika to attend a summit in Malawi this month.

In 2007, Mr Sata had gone to Malawi to meet a Malawian opposition leader. He was stopped at the airport by immigration officials, then driven 300 miles to be dumped at the border.

He told David Bandawe, Mr Mutharika’s special envoy: “Your government has not bothered to apologise … on that basis I find it extremely difficult to go to Malawi. I thought you were bringing a revocation order and an apology from your government.”

Mr Mutharika, in power since 2004, is himself accused by his citizens of being autocratic and intolerant of criticism.

In Zambia, just weeks into office, Mr Sata has replaced the country’s police chief, top anti-corruption official, central bank governor, state utility CEO and scores of lower-ranking public servants. Mr Sata portrays many of the changes as part of a campaign against corruption, but some Zambians worry he is punishing his political enemies.