What does Lungu think I am – HH
By Kombe Chimpinde Mataka
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says his predecessor Edgar Lungu allegedly wants to come back and start killing the people he did not kill.
“When he says alebwelelapo what does he think I am? What does he think you are?” he asked. “Those who are quiet do not mean they agree with noise being made. I am not supposed to be alive myself. I should have died a long time ago. But God protected us.”
During the Copperbelt Province UPND card renewal exercise in Kitwe on Monday, President Hichilema said he will not allow manoeuvres by Lungu to return to power.
He reminded Lungu about an incident when he was thrown in cells with women that were part of his delegation to the Copperbelt in Luanshya.
“Ndola, I know you remember the issue of Sun FM. Remember I was called to be locked up over ZAFFICO. Bushe namulaba (Have you forgotten)? Yali ninkondo (It was war). It was tense,” President Hichilema said.
He said he could not be arrested in some instances because of his party supporters who police feared would run amok.
“You said nga mwa mukaka HH fyalabipa (you said if you arrest HH hell will break loose). So who protected me? It was you. The journey we walked, the teargas, so many things. One time after the other ba lelanda ati tulebwelelapo. Alelanda ati alebwelelapo. Nakabili aletupuma? Kuti mwasumina imwe (Would you accept that)? Kuti mwasumina? Limbi aba kuti basumina (May be these can accept). Kwangala uko,” President Hichilema said in reference to the PF and Lungu. “Nimasobela ayo (those are games). One time I was in Mukobeko. He put me in there. He must say thank you that I am the President of the country. If I was to do what he did to me, he wouldn’t even be going to church. He was in church yesterday (Sunday).”
A visibly angry President Hichilema reminded UPND faithfuls how PF had forgotten that they had slain citizens together with supporters who he mentioned one by one.
He said he would not have been alive had it not been for some party members who died in his place.
“They killed children. Lawrence Banda, putting a bullet in his head,” he said.
“Joseph Kaunda, that bullet was meant for me, and Joseph Kaunda took that bullet for me. What do you think I think about that situation? When he says alebwelelapo what does he think I am? What does he think you are? What does he think the children of Joseph Kaunda are? Lawrence Banda, Mapenzi Chibulo, Grazier Matapa. What does he think about those women who were thrown in a cell together with me? Bushe aletontonkanya olo ninshi (are you thinking properly or what is it?” President Hichilema wondered.
He said God gave him a big chest but that should not be misunderstood.
President Hichilema said God wanted him to correct the wrongs of his predecessor.
“We must not misunderstand each other in this country. We must not abuse each other in this country,” he said. “How can one aspire to come back to come and start killing more young people? I am protecting young people, someone wants to come back and start killing the people he did not kill that time. Kwangala uko, kutumpa uko (Those are games. That’s being silly).”
President Hichilema urged Zambians not to be misled.
He said people were brought up differently and that his style of leadership was different from that of others.
“Some talk a lot, tick tock. All the time, talk talk. Those who are quiet do not mean they agree with noise being made. I am not supposed to be alive myself. I should have died a long time ago. But God protected us. But in a way a part of me died. We came for the Youth Day, you started fighting. Kutumpa uko (that’s being silly),” said President Hichilema. “If I allowed these guys to avenge after 2021 elections people would have died in this country.”