MUBITA NAWA: IF PATIENCE WAS A PERSON
By: Kirby Kaoma Musonda
“God’s Time Is Always the Best” — From Police Cells and Loyalty to Parliament
LUSAKA — If patience were a person, perhaps that person would be Mubita C. Nawa.
His journey from the opposition ranks to Parliament is a story of patience, loyalty, resilience and, ultimately, what many would describe as divine timing.
Mr Nawa joined the United Party for National Development (UPND) before the party formed government in 2021, around the same period as former Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya, who is now Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador to Tanzania.
Before the 2021 General Elections, the two were among those who stood firmly behind then opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, enduring difficult moments, including spending time in Police cells as they continued defending the opposition leader and the UPND cause.
When the UPND formed government in 2021, Mr Bwalya was among those appointed by President Hichilema to serve at State House.
For Nawa, however, the appointment did not come.
But instead of abandoning the cause or losing faith, he continued supporting President Hichilema and defending the New Dawn administration.
He appeared at several presidential engagements and, in his own way, took on a role of ensuring security and supporting the President wherever he went.
For years, Nawa remained a familiar face around presidential events.
While many would have become frustrated or moved on in search of opportunities, he remained patient.
He waited.
He served.
He believed.
And today, that patience has seemingly paid off.
The people of Mongu East have given Mubita Nawa a mandate to represent them in the National Assembly.
From the opposition trenches, through difficult political times, to becoming a Member of Parliament, his journey is a reminder that political journeys do not always unfold according to the timelines people expect.
Nawa’s story is particularly inspirational to young people who may feel overlooked or discouraged when opportunities do not come immediately.
His journey demonstrates that not every contribution receives an immediate reward and that remaining committed to one’s principles can sometimes require patience.
Following President Hichilema’s recent inauguration, Hon. Nawa shared an emotional reflection on his Facebook page, remembering the journey from the 2021 inauguration to the latest historic occasion.
«“The inauguration today was emotional. Five years ago I was at the same venue for the 2021 inauguration. Today was another special day. A milestone in our future.”»
He described the President’s speech as moving and said the addresses delivered by visiting heads of state were informative.
“Today was memorable, history and destiny were unraveled,” Nawa wrote.
He concluded with words that perhaps best capture his journey:
“Thank you God. Thank you to the people of Mongu East.”
For Mubita Nawa, the journey may have taken longer than many expected.
But sometimes, God’s time is the best time.
Hakainde Hichilema
State House – Zambia
Mubita C Nawa Mongu East Constituency Member of Parliament
National Assembly of Zambia
UPND Zambia