FOREIGN Affairs Minister Given Lubinda will not attend next week's 20th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as he is on annual leave.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah said Mr Lubinda had been on leave since December 21, 2012 and another minister had been acting in his position.

"State House wishes to clarify that Honourable Given Lubinda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will not attend next week's 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as he has taken his annual leave," he said.

Mr Chellah, however, said Mr Lubinda was facing serious charges in the Patriotic Front (PF), which would only be resolved at the forthcoming party central committee meeting.

Mr Lubinda, who is Kabwata Constituency Member of Parliament, has been accused of treachery and appeared before a PF disciplinary hearing.