PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday “undressed” his loud-mouthed political rival Chishimba Kambwili saying the former PF Roan Constituency lawmaker was suffering because of his unguarded utterances.
Responding to a question from ZNBC reporter Mark Zilingone at State House on Friday, on his ‘reconciliation’ with NDC leader, President Lungu said he had no issues with Kambwili, except for the fact that his words had affected him and his family members.
President Lungu complained that Kambwili had called him a drug dealer, thief and a corrupt person, allegations he had no evidence and could not be substantiated.
The Head of State said if he were a private person, he would have sued Kambwili.
Recently during the memorial service of the late president Michael Chilufya Sata at St Ignatius Catholic Parish in Lusaka, Parish priest Fr. Chilinda called President Lungu and Kambwili to reconcile.
He later held a closed door meeting with them.
“What happened is that I went to Church to remember my late president [Michael Sata]. I didn’t know that Mr Chishimba Kambwili was in the crowd and the priest called me and we shook hands. I was lamenting at that point, I was saying, what have I done to be called for reconciliation? Because I have never differed with this gentleman. In short, I have no issues with Chishimba Kambwili, save that he has offended some people, including members of my family, by calling me a thief, a corrupt person and a drug dealer,” the President said.
“To cut the long short, after the meeting the priest saw it fit to call us in his office and there I told him (Kambwili) what I have said. I said ‘you can’t reconcile with me, even if the Church wants that to be the case or the nation wants that to be the case, because I have no issues with you and it’s you who has issues with me.”
The President further disclosed that during the closed door meeting which also attended by Friday Chilinda, Kambwili complained bitterly that his businesses had been squeezed by government, to which President Lungu told responded that the NDC leader was suffering because of his loud mouth.
President Lungu advised Kambwili to publicly humble himself and apologise like GBM and Lusaka mayor Miles Sampa.
“I explained further by saying that ‘your mouth is so negative that people who want to work with you fear that they will be perceived to be supporting your cause and so, some of them have been withdrawing business association and interest from you.’ It’s not to do with me because I know what it means to suffer blackout or sanctions in that manner,” said President Lungu.
“So, I don’t know whether you can say that was reconciliation or not. I have spoken the way things happened! After that, we left. So, whether there’s reconciliation or not, I don’t have to reconcile with everybody. But you make peace with yourself, first; find out whether what you are saying is truthful or not. If not, retract.”
