WERE THREATS BY BINWELL MPUNDU AND EMMANUEL JAY JAY BANDA JUST MERE RHETORIC?
Zambians, it is important that we look back at some of the statements made before the General Elections and compare them with what happened later.
This is not about finding someone guilty through social media. It is about asking serious questions, questions that become disturbing when different statements and events are looked at together.
Binwell Mpundu posted a video in which he said, “In these elections, some of us have put our necks on the chopping board. We have so much to lose in this election. I am (we are) ready to be killed or to kill.”
The statement was widely shared on social media.
On another occasion, Mr Mpundu reportedly told the nation that a team was being trained in Russia to acquire special skills to protect Brian Mundubile.
Then came Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda.
During an online prayer, Mr Banda made remarks about killing President Hakainde Hichilema, before appearing to change the reference to David in the Bible.
But that was not the only disturbing statement.
Mr Banda later went online and made another statement involving C5 and President Hakainde Hichilema.
“Mulungu wanga, lekani ba C5 balizile Hakainde Mpolo-Mpolo. (My God allow the C5 unit to fire guns at Hakainde Hichilema).”
At the time, some people could have dismissed these statements as political anger, careless language or simply rhetoric.
But what happens when these statements are looked at together with what Authorities later said they discovered?
That is where the story becomes disturbing.
The State later reported that, within the wider Mundubile camp, there were individuals allegedly with military-style training and special skills, including sniper-related skills, vehicle jamming and alleged abduction techniques.
If these allegations are correct, then a serious question arises.
Was Binwell Mpundu’s statement about being “ready to be killed or to kill” simply political rhetoric?
Or was it connected to a mindset that may have existed among people around the political campaign?
There is another question.
It was also reported that some individuals associated with Brian Mundubile’s team were former C5 officers.
For ordinary Zambians, this is important because C5 is known for specialised security operations such as killing.
So, when statements about killing are followed by reports of people with special security or military skills being around the same political environment, should everything simply be dismissed as a coincidence?
Or should Authorities carefully investigate every connection?
Then came the most serious part of the story.
A Joint Defence and Security operation reportedly encountered individuals described by Authorities as a militia group, with sophisticated weapons allegedly recovered.
At that point, the matter was no longer simply about political speeches, Facebook posts or angry words.
It allegedly involved people, weapons, training and security forces.
And this raises another serious question.
If a heavily armed group was confronted by Joint Defence and Security forces, what could people reasonably expect to happen?
Would everyone simply put down their weapons and walk away?
Or, if the Authorities’ account is correct, was there a real possibility of gunfire?
This is why statements made before the incident deserve to be examined carefully.
Mr Mpundu spoke about being prepared to “be killed or to kill.”
Mr Banda made statements that many people understood as threats against the President.
Authorities later reported finding individuals allegedly with military-style skills and sophisticated weapons.
And there is another question Zambians may ask.
If Binwell Mpundu believed his statement was only innocent political rhetoric, why did he reportedly run away when the situation became serious?
That question, however, must be answered through evidence and due process, not social media speculation.
An innocent statement can be explained.
A misunderstood statement can be clarified.
And if someone is accused of wrongdoing, that person has the right to challenge the allegations through the courts.
But when words about killing, reports of military-style training, allegations of sophisticated weapons and a confrontation involving security forces appear in the same sequence of events, people will naturally start connecting the dots.
So, Zambians, we return to the original question.
Were the statements by Binwell Mpundu and Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda merely rhetoric?
Or were they warning signs that many people simply failed to recognise at the time?
Only a proper investigation, credible evidence and the courts can establish the truth.
But one thing is certain.
Words can be dismissed as rhetoric until events make people go back and listen to those words again.
– Zambian Watch News.
Mr. Mpundu is loud mouthed. Unfortunately, he mistakenly considers this as a mark of courage. However, a wise person gives careful consideration to what to say before they utter a word.
In James 3:5, the bible says, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body but it makes great boasts. Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a small spark”.
“For this election, I am prepared to kill or be killed”. Very strong words indeed. Alarming and disturbing to the nation.
Unfortunately, we seem to have quite a number of people who are reckless with their words. Messrs Chishimba Kambwili, Munir Zulu and Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda fall into this category. They have done immense damage to the nation’s cohesion with their unbridled ranting.
Lately, the writings of Dr. Sishuwa have been a source of concern to me, not to mention the chief propagandist, Mr. Emmanuel “Goebbels” Mwamba.
We need to tone down. We have only one Zambia.
Zambians have always said Kampyongo and Mwila were placed in positions where they had chance to collect arms for a day of uprising against the government.
Their connection with Mwikalile who owns a vast number of warehousing facilities and import licenses could be an option for closer scrutiny.
These people are upto no good because they feel power belongs to their clans and the signs are there.
The president has been slow to act because he wants unity of purpose among all Zambians.
The same gang of rogues have frustrated a lot of progressive projects including CDF.
They have worked hard to try and tarnish the image of the president to the extent of poisoning the minds of Zambian people of less understanding of the damage the PF did to Zambia.
They have tried tribal rhetoric, selective arrests of wrong doers and so on.
Unfortunately they have targeted the vulnerable section of society and poisoned their thinking.
These people are doing this when all they want is access to the treasury and government contracts which they abuse time and again.
North Western Province has been their target for the Gold it holds in abundance. Strong
Military presence is needed in this area because criminal activities are bound to distabilize the population in that area.
The local people must be seen to benefit from their land.
They must be protected by way of deliberate empowerment.
What happened on the copperbelt must not be seen to repeat itself in North western Province.
Mining Licenses must be issued with strong presence of the people that own that land by way of compulsory local partnerships. Without a 40 to 50 percent partnership arrangement, there should be no issuance of licenses.
The people of North Western Province have been down trodden for a long time. There are no schools to talk about there.
So, those with intentions to mine the Gold there must realize that it shall no longer be a shift of power as usual.
Don’t take advantage of a sleeping giant.