By Patson Chilemba
I don’t want to get into a cho-chise with Jean Kalaba, Nkandu Luo and Sylvia Chalikosa, says Chishimba Kambwili.
But the ladies have described as inappropriate the scenes at the memorial of the late president Michael Sata, where PF cadres displayed the campaign banners of Kambwili to take over as PF president.
When contacted over information that former ministers Professor Luo, Kapata and Sylvia Chalikosa approached former president Edgar Lungu to express their displeasure over the display of campaign banners and that that was the more reason why they did not want Kambwili to take over, but that president Lungu told them that they should just flow with the wind and go with the one the grassroots want to take over from him, Kambwili said such information has not come before him, but that it was unfortunate if indeed the three approached the former president.
Provided with further with the information that the three had not alleged that he was the one who organised the cadres, but that they had condemned the behaviour of the cadres, Kambwili said he equally scolded the cadres.
“I don’t want to get into a cho-chise with ba Jean, ba Nkandu Luo and ba (Chalikosa). I regard them as my colleagues. I hold them in high esteem. But I think by and large what we need at the moment is unity of purpose if we have to build this political party,” said Kambwili to Daily Revelation. “If indeed they went to president Edgar Lungu and this is what they said, it’s unfortunate. They would have just come to me if they felt it was me (who organised the cadres). I have nothing against them. I can’t say anything bad against them. I have a big heart. I don’t harbor resentment, I don’t hate people. I easily forgive. That’s my nature.”
Speaking earlier over information that they approached president Lungu to register their displeasure, Kapata said: “Well first of all I don’t even want to involve myself in issues that are concerning that day because what happened that day personally I detest, because it was very very, it was extremely bad”
She continued.
“Because that was supposed to be, it was a solemn situation, it was a memorial for the late president who I think as PF we hold in very high esteem. For such a thing, whether it was planned or not planned whatever it was, and let me say outright that I have not met president Lungu,” Kapata said. “We have not sat to discuss Kambwili. Personally, I don’t even want to be involved in such things, discuss presidency of PF because I feel that the right time will come … Probably I might just be looking at retiring myself. I am tired I have had a good run from early 2000 to today.”
But put to her that she was interested in becoming the new secretary general, Kapata said: “Why should I eye for it now that we are out of even power? Why should I eye for it? No no, no, no. Personally I am not an ambitious person … let’s wait for the postmortem to go on we have given the report to the president. The president will call the meeting at the right time. And for me I don’t mind who wants to stand.”
She said she was too busy with her family to be seeking one of the highest positions and that she did not even have strength as she was getting old, and would therefore like to expend her energies into productive purposes at her farm than throwing stones at people.
Prof Luo also spoke but said that she did not want her reaction to be quoted as she did not want engage in “gossip.”
“Don’t even say you spoke to me. I am above those kinds of discussions … I don’t even to see my name on your story… don’t mention my name. Please let me remain with the respect that Zambians have given me, okay. Don’t draw me into things I am not supposed to be drawn into,” Prof Luo said.
Chalikosa, over the same information, said unaware of what was happening, she just saw people raising banners at the memorial.
She said there was time for everything.
“We are not campaigning. We are not in a campaign mood, especially for internal politics. So people should be able to assess what’s going on and be able to act accordingly. You can’t start bringing your personal campaign issues. I believe even honourable Kambwili was equally surprised, we don’t know who arranged that,” Chalikosa said. “But they could have done that at a different forum that is all I have to say. We are not stopping anyone from expressing their interests, I mean it’s a democratic dispensation we are in, but we have to have a time when we can do this. If it’s a memorial, it’s a memorial. It’s not a time for campaigning. So I personally thought it was inappropriate because the function did not demand that such things happen. I don’t want to say too much because nalailetelela nganalanda too much … people should be able to gauge when certain things can be done, depending on the mood and activity.”
Asked if president Lungu held the same views as those held by herself, Chalikosa said: “None of us discussed the issue, we all observed and saw what happened, and we didn’t sit down to talk about it.”
