HH UNMASKS GARRY NKOMBO
… lifts veil on decades of political friction, accusing the former minister of drinking with the enemy while UPND members bled
By DAVID KANDUZA
IN a blistering political address that has sent shockwaves through the UPND, President Hakainde Hichilema has launched a direct verbal assault on his former Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Garry Nkombo.
Addressing a charged crowd in Mazabuka, the Head of State explicitly detailed a history of deep-seated animosity, alleging that Mr Nkombo’s loyalty was compromised even during their hardest days in the political trenches.
“Garry Nkombo started fighting me a long time ago,” President Hichilema declared, laying bare a rift that had long been managed behind closed doors.
“Even when we were in opposition, when PF officials would beat me up and try to kill me, I would see Gary Nkombo drinking alcohol with the same PF officials who were attacking me,” the President disclosed.
The explosive revelation provides stark context to the dramatic fallout between the two political heavyweights, which culminated in Mr Nkombo being stripped of his ministerial portfolio.
Long regarded as one of Mr Hichilema’s most formidable lieutenants, Mr Nkombo’s relationship with State House disintegrated ahead of the August general elections, prompting him to file as an independent candidate for the Mazabuka Central parliamentary seat.
The political divorce has turned Mazabuka into a volatile battleground.
Clashes have erupted in Southern Province between hardcore UPND loyalists and Mr Nkombo’s supporters.
Mr Nkombo’s independent filing ended in a torn shirt and assault allegations following an ambush by suspected ruling party cadres.
In a bizarre turn of events, the veteran politician was later arrested and slapped with assault charges related to the same nomination day fracas.
Despite the public dressing-down from the President, Mr Nkombo had maintained a highly calculated defense.
Following his Cabinet dismissal, Mr Nkombo initially displayed immense political maturity, publicly thanking the President for the opportunity to serve and urging the opposition not to weaponise his exit.
However, as the rhetoric from State House intensifies, Mr Nkombo had to fight on two fronts—reaffirming his overarching loyalty to the UPND’s foundational goals while fiercely defending his local turf against internal attempts to forcefully push him out of the political sphere.
With the general election fast approaching, Mr Hichilema’s Mazabuka declarations have effectively drawn a line in the sand, transforming what was once a brotherhood of opposition survival into an all-out war for political dominance in the UPND’s traditional stronghold.
Nelson Mandela once said “One of the mistakes which some political analysts make is to think that their enemies should be our enemies.”
I hope HH should reflect on this.
All has been heard.We all know the dangers of associating with people with criminal minds.Most people who were genuine and peaceful in mind felt bad when HH was put in prison, even those who never belonged to UPND felt so bad and could not find time to dine and share drinks on the same table with people with criminal minds.
I fail to understand this because the man was clobbered badly as he tried to defend HH. Now to hear that he could even be seen drinking with the same trigger happy characters it is perplexing.It is important in life to avoid bad situations that can create misunderstandings.A friend of your friend must not be your enemy with life threatening behavior.You better part company with both and you live longer.
Read the articles prior I find that Mr. Nkombo is just a triffling insubordinate man.
Gray could have brought his dissent on bill 7 in cabinet which he was a member of, than bring it out by voting against the bill. He could have chosen not attend the voting for the bill or abstained than overtly/openly defied the leader of the Party’s direction.
There is nothing sinister about the actions of the Head of State and the Head of the Party to fire Gary Nkombo. You can not have someone openly defy you in the manner Gary did on the matter. Its in the law that the President doesnt even have to justify the dismissal. So Gray is nothing but being arrogant and “sour grapes” by even responding to the man.
We grew up in an era when answering your elders was disrespectful. And Gray shows a vile trait to even think he has the right to. Expelled from UNPD is too justified. He went against the party and the fact that he wasnt nominated.
The answer maybe speculative but hear me out. What is outlined above is one way of looking at it. Another is the fact the very people that elected Gray questioned what he has done not just the last five years but 20 as MP for the area. People travel read see hear. The work being done in some constituencies while a simple thing like drainage in a high density area is not attended to. More so when the man is Minister of local government. Are we not harder on our own children to behave better than those that are not ours?
Gary I register my disappointment not just the path you have taken. But your utterances. We looked up to you…and know that you are an intelligent man. But a time comes when you need to think about your legacy. Try some introspect. Parties government are bigger than an individual thats why is about service not you…..
There are no permanent enemies in politics. Is it not the same HH who is dinning with the likes of Miles Sampa, Sunday Chanda, Andrew Lubusha, Sydney Mushanga,Tayali and company the same people who left no stone unturned to make sure HH was vilified, discredited, arrested, harassed etc when he was in opposition. Now they are so close to him that he even adopted them as MPs under upnd.