Go to court if you have rigging evidence, Mambo tells Chilangwa
By Mast Correspondent
BISHOP John Mambo has challenged the PF leadership to go to court if they have evidence indicating that the August 2021 general elections were rigged in favour of the UPND.
He recalled then president Edgar Lungu declaring that “I am going to hand over power to myself”.
“We were all alert. They had said they were going to win the elections by 500,000 votes. They said it publicly. But it is surprising that the people who wanted to rig the elections by 500,000 votes and were confident they were going to win by that today are crying that the elections were rigged,” Bishop Mambo said.
He was commenting on a statement by acting PF secretary general Nickson Chilangwa who when addressing party women in Ndola on Sunday said they had information that the elections were rigged.
He condemned such statement saying it cannot bring about healing but instead fan tension.
“For Zambians, it is time to bring about healing and not division,” he said. “In elections there are winners and there are losers and our laws are very clear. If you have evidence of such (election rigging), you go to court.”
Bishop Mambo said President Hakainde Hichilema was trying his best to champion the message of national healing.
He said when people hear the One Zambia One Nation slogan on ZNBC, it was real.
“We may have different tribes, different backgrounds but at the end of the day we are under one roof. Now it is not expected of anyone to come out and say we suspect A, B and C. This time around we are mourning, we have lost two gallant freedom fighters in the names of Rupiah Banda and Christine Mulundika. Now even in our own culture, if you have differences you bury them,” Bishop Mambo said. “The funeral of KK (first president) is still very fresh. Now as Zambians, we must start being a Christian nation and start asking ourselves what has befallen us that we have lost a number of presidents, five of them in a roll. Of course through sickness and God gives and God takes. But it is always good to petition God because even their sickness, going to hospital, had we put our heads together and pray, God answers but it’s like we rejoice every time going to bury a head of state. And of course we cannot question God but it’s up to us to ask God, please give us long life for our President. Only two are remaining, HH and Edgar Lungu.”
Bishop Mambo said late Banda was a very good, approachable, man who loved his country and his family.
He said even the issue of removing his immunity was uncalled for.
“But where we are now it is time for national building. But again all this arrogance, careless talk and so forth is happening because of our inability to act, bringing all who are found wanting to book. There shouldn’t be speculation about it but they should be brought to book to account so that in the near future, I must be afraid to say if I do this, then I will be caught in the crossfire. But it’s like honeymoon has continued,” Bishop Mambo noted. “As of today, I know people who have been found wanting and need to be arrested for what they have done, but someone will wake up and say, ‘no, no no, you can’t touch that one because he is a relative of so and so’. Those type of officers we do not need them.”
He reiterated his call for a cleanup in governance institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission, and the Zambia Police.
Bishop Mambo also called for a stop to people serving in acting capacities.
“Acting leaves these people vulnerable. They have no ability to act because they are acting and some staff take advantage,” he said. “And also for the President, it’s too early not to respond to what people are saying. What must be done now should be done now.”
Bishop Mambo said more wounds were being opened up through careless talk.
He noted that the language by leaders was one of disrespect.
He said it was worrying especially that the whole world hailed Zambia over credible 2021 elections.
Bishop Mambo wondered how the elections were rigged when PF organised and run them.
He said Zambians were not foolish, “if there are people who rigged elections, it’s them”.
“We were all alert. They had said they were going to win the elections by 500,000 votes. They said it publicly. But it is surprising that the people who wanted to rig the elections by 500,000 votes and were confident they were going to win by that today are crying that the elections were rigged!” said Bishop Mambo. “No, they should explain: what did they do? They were in power, had everything on their side. Their cadres were armed to the teeth and they intimidated everyone and Lungu even announced at Ndola airport that I am going to hand over power to myself so they knew what they were talking about. They even said that HH would be arrested. So how can they turn around and cry that elections were rigged? Who are they fooling?”