LISWANISO EXPLAINS WHY GARY NKOMBO WAS ATTACKED BY UPND CADRES LED BY SHALOBA..
My colleague Bilden was angry that his “cousin” Nkombo was going against the party he fought for a long time
UPND national youth chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has explained that Bilden Shaloba who led a rowdy party cadres to attack former local government minister Gary Nkombo is a trusted member of the ruling party who escorts President Hakainde Hichilema everywhere he goes.
In full view of armed Zambia Police officers, Shaloba and other UPND cadres violently attacked Nkombo who is contesting as Mazabuka Central independent candidate at Mazabuka civic centre during the filling of nominations for the August general election.
Liswaniso said the violent attack on the former UPND Mazabuka Central MP was a “family affair” that was executed to prevent Nkombo from going away from the party as a result of frustrations after losing President Hichilema’s favour on allegations that he did not support the highly divisive Bill 7 last December.
“Shaloba, he is one of our youths; if you have heard, even Gary is saying this is my cousin – those [Shaloba and Nkombo] are relatives at the end of the day,” Liswaniso said when he featured Hoot FM’s Hot Seat programme.
“Somehow, maybe Bilden was angry [that] something which you [Nkombo] fought for; ‘don’t do this’… I am just thinking. Bilden is a member of UPND; he is one of the youth of the UPND; he escorts the President to go everywhere; among the UPND youth, he is there. He is our own. He is one of the trusted youths within the UPND party.”
Liswaniso said Nkombo betrayed the party when voted against Bill 7 instead of following the party voting pattern.
He said Nkombo who previously served as UPND chairman of elections is today at the “dumpsite” because he “misbehaved” against the party and that remaining party members should take lessons from his fall from grace.
“All of us are where we are today because of President Hichilema. Even Gary Nkombo himself where he is today is because of President Hichilema,” he said, adding that: “It’s not fair that you want to paint Hakainde Hichilema black and yet all of us we know that to reach where we’re today, it’s because of Hakainde Hichilema; bane, tiyeni tizatasha (friends, let us be grateful).”
Liswaniso said the attacks on Nkombo was a “family affair” and Shaloba assaulted the former lawmaker to prevent him from leaving UPND, the party he fought for.
“Maybe Bilden felt that, mukulu wanga (my older brother), you fought for this party, don’t do this… for my colleague Bilden maybe, and this has been the talk in the family within Mazabuka… Bilden anakalipa kuwona muntu anavutikila chipani [Bilden was angry to see a person who endured for the party] wants
go in that way,” said Liswaniso.
“… so kumulesa [dissuade him] – don’t do this… This is your party; you fought for it. No matter how hard things they are, hold on to it. But at the end of the day, there was that harassment, the two people (Shaloba and Nkombo). All of them are appearing before police; they have got cases, winangu he said banamumenya (he was assaulted); because when you look at that video tonse tikayangana, the fight started kutali konse. What we saw, it was a clip for two-to-three minutes… everyone is claiming to have been assaulted.”
“… so kumulesa [dissuade him] – don’t do this… This is your party; you fought for it. No matter how hard things they are, hold on to it. But at the end of the day, there was that harassment, the two people (Shaloba and Nkombo). All of them are appearing before police; they have got cases, winangu he said banamumenya (he was assaulted); because when you look at that video tonse tikayangana, the fight started kutali konse. What we saw, it was a clip for two-to-three minutes… everyone is claiming to have been assaulted.”
“He escorts the President wherever he goes”. Therein lies the arrogance of one Bilden Shaloba. He is untouchable because he is part of the President’s inner circle.
And by the way Mr. Liswaniso, Mr. Nkombo and you are not where you are because of Mr. Hichilema. Mr. Hichilema would not be President without the support of people like you and Mr. Nkombo. Don’t make the President appear like he is the alpha and omega. Take away the support base and the President will come crashing down.
This thug, Bilden Shaloba, disturbed the public peace at Mazabuka Civic Centre and assaulted Mr. Nkombo. His place is in a prison cell.
Thank you Mr. Liswaniso once again for the insights. The problem is that, it is not up to Bilden Shaloba or anyone else for that matter, to decide for Nkombo, let alone assault him in order to stop him from his inalienable right to participate in politics. It is not even correct to suggest that they assaulted each other. Please cage that chap Shaloba. He is behaving like Ama Amelika of the PF era but the difference is in UPND, the President came out strong that same day to condemn the assault and have those thugs arrested.
What type of reasoning is this? Are you saying then that these hooligans are above the law. This is a very ridiculous response. There is need accountability.
This type of behavior and utterences is completely unjustified. Very embarrassing.
What an absurd reason to give. Bilden and his group should be uses to set an examples so that he can not have others decide the will of another.
Liswaniso’s reasoning is nothing but primitive and no different from the kind that prevailed during PF.
If one decides to pray at lunch time and its within the law. Should others then stop her or him cause it doesnt suit them? Bilden is a thug. If left uncaged, in so many words; he has damaged everything HH and others in UPND have worked so hard and believe in. Impulse and ignorance is not an exuse to commit a crime. Bilden and those rally around such criminality. Let law enforcement do its job…period. Have a discussion about a crime? Was it not too long ago the DPP said the only one who revoke a case is him? What is this non sense about sitting down and discussing? If Gray had lost his life would you be discussing? That too would have been a crime. Cage this man we waste too much time appeasing errant fools in this country.
We can not let the “Bildens” of this world to be justifed. We are a country of laws. If you act so brazen and irrationally to commit a crime. Let the law take its course.
We often hear of folks accusing UPND. The suggestion of “talks” to cover up a crime is in itself an insult to victims of such crimes.
Already we have seen or read of the same being perpetuated in Mongu. Habits die hard. This government and Liswaniso should be embarassed to even speak like this. What a shame. The four years have not even started and UPND leaders have the nerve to speak like this? Disgusting….wannabe terrorist. Cage him who told him he is some kind of God that should shape the will and destiny of others. Too often we let goons and terrorist shape our destiny cause they want to suggest and think they have some kind of power. Those that authority use it responisibly. Liswaniso be weary of the words and authority you have. A crime is a crime and lets not play the games we saw in PF.
Very disappointing. All explanations don’t make sense at all. It was better to keep quiet than to make all those childish explanations.
Is it not understood that all this happened within an election restricted area during selection adoptions of electoral candidates.
To try and trivialize this issue to family relationships is immature and showing a level of ignorance of the requirements of the law. This unfortunate utterance needs to be corrected ASAP. It has the potential of permanently damaging the image that has been very difficult to reflect and maintain.
Is this the only person left now for critical public utterences. This needs urgent attention. The attitude repercussions from the voters who are looking inside the administrative side and what has been exposed will be devastating it is allowed to continue like this.
This is totally unacceptable.
This guy has even admitted Gary was attacked by upnd youths yet the police think its the other way round and have charged Gary instead.
This guy has even admitted Gary was attacked by upnd youths yet the police think its the other way round and have charged Gary instead. Mazabuka residents should answer the biased police by voting for Gary as MP.
AS FAR AS I SEE, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A PRODIGAL SON THERE WHO NEEDS TO GO BACK TO HIS FATHER AND MAKE A GENUINE APOLOGY TO BE ACCEPTED BACK INTO THE FOLD.
SOMETINES WE ALLOW OUTSIDERS TO GIVE US FALSE HOPES OF BEING BIGGER THAN WE ARE.
IT IS ONLY WHEN ONE’S ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECTED TO THE MICROSCOPE THAT THEY REALISE THE DIRECTION THEY TOOK WAS A FOOL’ S SEASON AND MISJUGEMENT.
THE END IS REGRETTABLE.
MY ADVICE TO GN, SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND AND SHADE OFF THE AGENTS OF DIVIDE AND RULE. IT SEEMS YOU CAN NOT SEE BEYOND YOUR NOSE.
BE THE PRODIGAL SON WHO REALIZED HIS WRONG DECISION AND REALIZED WHERE HE BELONGED AND WENT BACK IN HUMBLENESS.