Given Lubinda and entourage refused to greet HH at consecration of Chipata Bishop.
By Stanley Soko
PF acting President Given Lubinda accompanied by aspiring Party President Brian Mundubile, acting SG Nickson Chilangwa and former Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, refused to acknowledge the presence of Republican President Hakainde Hichilema, at the Episcopal consecration of MSGR Gabriel Msipu Phiri, as new auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata at St Anne’s Cathedral Grounds in Chipata on Saturday.
The opposition entourage sat a few metres from the President in sullen silence and apparent willful defiance, and when time for offering of gifts to the new Bishop was announced, the pack filed past the Head of State’s dais wearing angry faces and muttering in hushed tones.
In his opposition days, President Hichilema defied hostility from PF party cadres and State Security to pay his courtesies to his predecessor during public ceremonies.
President Hakainde Hichilema however acknowledged them in his speech emphasising the importance of unit and democracy where everyone was free to associate in a part of the country, “unlike only 19 months ago when there would have been teargas and sounds of gunfire here”.
The President’s words seemed to have reported home. Given Lubinda and his cortege stared to the ground with what can be described as horribly chagrined expressions.
