By Patson Chilemba
Mumbi Phiri has charged that ukulinganya amapuli kulaponwesha (interpreted as saying, don’t think you are the same with the other person just because you both have testicles, you will end up being beaten), in response to assertions that those in PF are campaigning freely, while stopping their opposition opponents.
And Chishimba Kambwili said he followed opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and Democratic Party (DP) leader Harry Kalaba’s lead in distributing masks, but just like them he too had been victim of being stopped from some campaign events by police.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Phiri, the former PF deputy secretary general and the ruling party’s Lusaka Province deputy campaign manager, said the campaigns were going well and the PF “will definitely win by over 70 percent of the vote.”
“Everybody who is sincere they know that I have always said over 70 percent. Even the tv interview I said. Me I don’t flip flop like HH,” Phiri said.
But asked what she made of the fact that they were campaigning freely but the person she had just mentioned was being hindered from doing the same, Phiri mentioned a Bemba proverb talking about “amapuli” in responding to the question.
“Kumwesu tulanda ati ukulinganya amapuli kulaponwesha (interpreted as saying, don’t think you are the same with the other person just because you both have testicles, you will end up being beaten). That’s the problem Zambians have. And I end there,” said Phiri.
And Kambwili said Hichilema was not the only victim in having his campaigns stopped by the police.
“First and foremost police when I was giving masks came to Mpatamatu market to try and stop me, yes. They treated me like anybody else. They also stopped me. I was supposed to have four markets to visit, I only visited two, the other two they refused me. So why is he saying he is treated differently? He’s telling lies.
“It’s actually him who started the issue of giving face masks and that’s why I also started but police stopped me from going to Mikomfwa market market and Walale market. So how is he being treated differently so that’s not true, police stopped me, ask the police in Luanshya, from going ahead with the other two markets.”
Put across to him that it was the President who started with the issue of masks distribution in Mtendere, Kambwili said: “The President is on duty, the President is not campaigning he’s on duty. The President is a sitting President and he’s on duty.”
“No I am not politicking,” when asked that he was politicking by saying what he had just said. “The President is still sitting President, that’s the law. He has the right to go and visit and advise people and do whatever during his execution of duty. That’s the law,” Kambwili said. “But we saw Kalaba start giving masks, HH start giving masks and I started giving masks as well. So he was not treated any differently than me.”
Kambwili said he had also complained about the lack of rallies and road shows
“My position on road shows is that they must open up. I have also been complaining because I know that’s the best way of campaigning. So let him not cry like he’s the only victim, we are all victims,” said Kambwili. “So mentioning my name he’s a free man to mention my name but I have also been stopped.”
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