By Agness Changala
Former President Edgar Lungu was seen singing “nalitumpa ine” while dancing at the same time after Mumbi Phiri pleaded with him to go to Cabinet Office and collect the letter in which he indicatd that he had retired from active politics.
After Esther’s court case was adjourned, Lungu and wife went out in the company of senior party officials and sympathisers.
While they were walking out of the Court premises, Phiri started shouting urging president Lungu to come back to politics and suffer with the people.
“insala twachula bweleni muma politics. Inkalata mwatwala ku Cabinet mwalilanda ati amapolitics mwaleka muyesenda. Insala chuleni nifwe tujoineni. Tatwachulile ama benefits (We have suffered as there is too much hunger in the country. Please consider coming back to politics. Please join us in this struggle against hunger)” she said.
While she was saying this, president Lungu was reluctantly seen tapping Phiri on the shoulder to stop her from saying what she was saying but she continued after which he seemed to have given in and said ‘nalitumpa ine’ while doing his trademark dance, sending the crowd into laughter.
At the entrance of the Court premises while waiting to board his vehicle, Lungu continued listening to Phiri’s call for him to return to politics.
As she continued talking, Lungu told former secretary general Davies Mwila to tell her ‘ uko kutumpa (that is being foolish) and when Mwila did, Mumbi laughed and responded saying, awe tekutumpa tulechula batata. Abengi balechula bweleni. Ngamukalusa tukalanda bakambe ukumifolesha (No this is not foolishness, we are suffering father. Most people are suffering please come back. If you stand and lose, we shall speak so that they return your benefits)
Ati this point, president Lungu cautioned Mumbi Phiri to be careful “pantu kuli imingalato.”
In response, she said, “awe ifwe twaliba the longest nabalila imingalato naliba cila. Jogging mailo ekotuli kaili ine nale jogging nainwe nakalenakale (I am better than those who play tricks. Even for jogging I will join you tomorrow since I have jogged with you before)” Mumbi said.
Lungu chipped in and said tabeshile bwino amayo aba (she has not come well this woman).
Phiri said, “I did not come well from prison. How do you keep a woman in prison for 429 days?”
In response, president Lungu said what Phiri was saying is true and he would think about it.
The response excited Phiri who shouted Amen!
