By Patson Chilemba
I don’t want my supporters to intimidate other PF presidential aspirants as that will just destroy the party further, says Chishimba Kambwili.
Reacting to the statement by Lupososhi member of parliament (PF) Emmanuel Mpankata, who said he was shocked over the rise of the ‘Njomba Njomba boys’ and others hooligans, whom he said appeared like those grown in green houses to be unleashed for violence, Kambwili said those asserting that some people were using hooligans should mention the same people who were using the hooligans, rather than speaking in innuendos.
But put to him that former Chifunabuli member of parliament (PF) Ponde Mecha had earlier asserted even before Mpankata made his statement that the same cadres who cost the PF the elections had taken over the show in choosing leaders, and intimidating those who were aspiring, but Kambwili’s name was coming out prominent as the one they wanted, Kambwili said it was not right for any of his supporters to be intimidating people, if there were any.
“Democracy does not work by intimidation. If there are any of my supporters intimidating others I can only appeal to them to say that let everybody have his democratic right to aspire, and let the delegates at the general conference elect who they want. That is democracy,” Kambwili said to Daily Revelation. “I do not condone indiscipline, I do not condone insults, I do not condone intimidation. So people must respect every leader who wants to aspire, must respect every person who wants to aspire, and ending up insulting others is not going to build the party. To the contrary, it will just destroy the party further.”
Kambwili further dismissed reports that PF secretary general Davies Mwila had threatened to expel him from the party for campaigning for the presidency while former president Edgar Lungu was still leader of the party.
He said Mwila had sent correspondence to many, including himself that that was fake news.
“He has clarified that it is fake news,” Kambwili said, saying he suspected the information was being spread by his opponents in the party. “Certainly, people want to create stories like I told you, that story that came in the Daily Nation that Kambwili says ‘I am taking over PF’. It was fake news. I never spoke to the newspaper and I am glad yesterday they retracted it.”
Mpankata said party hooligans were threatening people from standing, like the ones who recently displayed banners in support of Kambwili at the memorial service of late president Michael Sata at Embassy Park. But Kambwili said he would not respond to Mpankata as he did not know who he was referring to, although in essence, Mpankata was apparently referring to Kambwili.
Mpankata said some people were using the hooligans to show some clout, as no normal person in the party could follow them.
But Kambwili said that it was hatred that was driving Mpankata against him.
“I can only wish Mpankata good luck in his campaign against me. I can only wish him good luck,” said Kambwili.
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