MUMBI ARREST A LITMUS TEST
…the system knows she never killed Banda – Kambwili
By Charles Tembo
CHISHIMBA Kambwili is calling on the international community to condemn the arrest and charging of Mumbi Phiri for murder.
And Kambwili says he will write to President Hakainde Hichilema complaining that, “in Zambia, it is very difficult for the opposition to have access to the President.”
According to Kambwili, who produced a video, said while Phiri was present in Kaoma she did not participate in the killing of UPND member, Lawrence Banda.
Phiri is former PF deputy secretary general.
Police on Friday jointly charged Phiri and former president Edgar Lungu’s barber Shabby Chilekwa for the murder of Banda.
“Police have jointly charged and arrested Mumbi Phiri aged 52 of house number 32A Waterfalls area in Chongwe district with Shabby Chilekwa Chisenga aged 34 of Mimosa area in Chilanga for one count of murder contrary to section 200 chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia,” disclosed deputy police public relations officer Danny Mwale. “This is in a matter where Lawrence Banda was shot dead in Kaoma on October 6, 2019. The two have since appeared…before the Kaoma Magistrate Court. They are both remanded in Kaoma Correctional Facility.”
The duo appeared before magistrate Bestin Hamaseke and the matter has been adjourned to March 10 for mention.
Addressing the media at his residence in Luanshya on Friday, Kambwili said Zambia is cursed and needs serious prayers.
“Mumbi mighty have been there but she is not the one who killed Lawrence Banda. She is not the one who pulled the trigger to kill. We are all convinced that Mumbi Phiri never killed Banda. The system knows that when charged her with a non-bailable offence. Is this what we want as Zambians to use the police for retribution, revenge, for what they went through?” Kambwili said in reference to the UPND. “I am calling on the international community, the Church, to condemn the arrest of Mumbi Phiri. This country is cursed and we need to prayers of repentance. The arrest of Mumbi Phiri is a litmus test for him [President Hakainde Hichilema]. We need to stop this UPND government from moving on the ills of the PF.”
He also said meeting President Hichilema is very difficult for an opposition leader.
“I will write to the President over this. In Zambia, it is very difficult for the opposition to have access to the President,” Kambwili said.
He said those that want to blame him for the loss of the PF do not understand what a revolution is.
“I do not want to go outside the reams of the PF. I am ready to stand as PF president. Those that think that I contributed to the loss of the PF don’t know what a revolution is. Go to the areas where I campaigned and see the results. Compare the results and see what I did,” said Kambwili.