Chishimba Kambwili’s tribalism must be answered – Elias Munshya
We have a moral duty and obligation to answer those who want to promote tribalism in our country. I would be failing in the duty I owe to the promise of our country if I do not answer the vicious tribalism we saw displayed by the Patriotic Front operative Chishimba Kambwili in both Mkushi and Serenje.
Kambwili, riding in the newly minted campaign helicopters, arrived in the land of the Lala and Swaka peoples in Mkushi and Serenje to much funfair of children waiting to catch a glimpse of the helicopter. At this moment, we cannot confirm who is paying for these helicopter rides, but it appears like whoever is investing heavily in Kambwili is obviously a big buyer. But in any case, Kambwili went on radio in Mkushi and Serenje and spoke at a rally in Serenje. Wherever he is going in the lands of the Swakas and Lalas, his message is consistent – Mr Hakainde Hichilema should not be elected because he is Tonga. We need to refute this kind of thinking.
Kambwili is lying when he says that the UPND is a party for Tongas. In actual fact, the UPND’s national management committee has more Bembas than any other ethnic or language groups in its ranks. When the UPND went to its elective conference, we analysed its composition and what we found was that the NMC was tribally much more balanced than the PF central committee. But even then, the Bembas commanded a more significant number than others. It is therefore ridiculous for Kambwili to claim that the UPND is tribal.
Kambwili claims that the UPND’s only motive is to make a Tonga become a leader of this country. I think Zambians will elect Mr Hichilema not because he is Tonga; but because he makes the most sense among the candidates running for office. Mr Hichilema is promising to reform the police, reform the criminal justice system, and take control of the economic and fiscal mess in our country. Mr Hichilema recognises that the biggest threat to our economic growth is the lack of fiscal discipline. He is promising to bring to the table policies and practices that will answer this. All these and so many other reasons are what makes Mr Hichilema the natural choice for many Zambians.
And the fact that Mr Hichilema is Tonga should not give the likes of Mr Kambwili any sleepless nights. Zambia is one country and one nation. It exists as one nation. And if a leader who happens to be Tonga comes with solutions for his country, then it becomes our duty as patriotic citizens to elect such a person as leader.
Mr Kambwili goes further by alleging that the Tongas just want to rule Zambia. Indeed, just like I have explained above, if a Zambian has solutions to solve our problems, Zambians must elect such a person. If anything, perhaps we are in a mess we are as a country because all we have had for leadership are some good speaking sly kelenkas who have had no programme for Zambia’s development. It could be time for us to look south. And that there should not be a problem with our country looking south or west!
We all should sympathise with Mr Kambwili. Nearly everyone knows that he returned to the Patriotic Front because of the numerous court cases he has. He hopes that by currying some favour with the Patriotic Front, he can have some of his frivolous cases dismissed. Further, the PF really squeezed this gentleman and caught him by his legs. They pressed the right buttons because they knew where he had buried the skeletons and when the right time came – they knew where to press him.
And so, no one can take this gentleman seriously. We all tried to take him seriously and were lured into the snare of the NDC – but after looking at the pattern of his behaviour, the NDC should be better without the honourable gentleman.
Before returning to the PF, Kambwili was considered the running mate in the UPND Alliance. I think there was good reason to think that he had reformed. He openly asked for forgiveness for his past tribalist comments. But perhaps the imbwili cannot change his spots after all, and when the PF pressed the right buttons, they scored and had him by the legs, head, and neck.
Zambia is proceeding to elections, and if they have judged that Mr Hakainde Hichilema is the best candidate – nothing will stop the will of the Zambian people.
The Author, Elias Munshya, can be reached at elias@munshyalaw.com