SOUTHEND MP James Duddridge appeared to confuse Zimbabwe with Zambia in a speech at the funeral of a former African leader.

Mr Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, and Minister For Africa, confused the two countries at the funeral of Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding president last week.

Kaunda, who died last month at the age of 97, ruled Zambia from 1964, when it won independence from Britain, until 1991.

James Duddridge MP was speaking at the funeral as one of the UK's representatives when he made the blunder.

He also appeared to stumble over the pronunciation of the name of Zambia’s present leader, Edgar Lungu.

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In his speech, he described Kaunda as a "great man, an African hero, and a highly respected friend of the United Kingdom who helped end apartheid in South Africa and was firmly committed to the Commonwealth.

“Today the United Kingdom mourns Dr Kaunda’s passing alongside his family, the people of Zimbabwe and indeed the wider world.”