By Isaac Zulu
NDC secretary general Charles Kabwita says his party is looking to engage western embassies based in Zambia over what they feel as the danger of having a politically active civil servant, Josephs Akafumba continuing to serve as Home Affairs permanent secretary.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Kabwita said immediate past NDC faction leader Mwenya Musenge, who was removed by his party leadership, and later said that Home Affairs permanent secretary Akafumba was responsible for his removal from his position, has confirmed what those in the Saboi Imboela led faction have always asserted that Akafumba is actively involved in politics, and in the process flouting the law governing civil servants not to engage in active politics.
He said in addition to that, there is also an audio which purportedly indicates that Akafumba, working with President Hakainde Hichilema’s political advisor Levy Ngoma, were conspiring to kill another opposition party Democratic Party (DP).
Kabwita also had words for Musenge himself, who was also ostracized in the other NDC faction of Imboela, that he must take a deep reflection away from politics as “his secret dealings have caused him a lot of pain in politics.”
Kabwita said it was unhealthy for the country’s democracy to have “an anarchist like Akafumba” running the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, saying President Hichilema must stick to his promises to professionalise the civil service by relieving Akafumba from his position so that he could continue active politics somewhere without risking tax payers money and the country’s democracy.
“He’s a civil servant who should not actively participate in politics. Mwenya Musenge the immediate past successor of ba Akafumba has confirmed that the person who appointed him was also responsible for his removal from his position,” Kabwita said. “Your Excellency Mr President you promised Zambians to do the correct thing. Are you sure Akafumba is doing you justice by breaking the law with impunity?…It is a matter we have discussed with my president Saboi that we shall soon be writing to embassies that respect the rule of law and democracy. If he’s not reprimanded he will cause serious injury to our democracy.”
Kabwita said he was saddened that President Hichilema and Vice-President Mutale Nalumango have reminded mate despite being implicated in the audio over assertions of trying to kill democracy.
And Kabwita said the current happenings in the country require God’s intervention.
“I am personally deeply concerned about the suicide cases that the country has continued to record, not forgetting the road traffic accidents recorded in the recent past where lives have been lost. In mind I have a prominent Kitwe based businessman by the name of Barry Bwalya who commited suicide in unexplained circumstances, a seven year old grade one pupil who also commited suicide in unexplained circumstances, a health worker from Kabwe General Hospital and many other suicide incidences,” said Kabwita.
He said there is urgent need to hold national prayers and seek God’s intervention in order for the country to overcome the challenges facing the general citizenry.
“It is like a bad omen has befallen our nation. It is like satanism is taking centre stage in our communities. And it is evident that Zambia needs spiritual healing. And it is for that reason that we need to hold national prayers and seek God’s intervention in order for us to overcome what we are going through as a nation,” said Kabwita.
He further urged President Hakainde Hichilema to consider re-establishing the Ministry of Religious Affairs, while sustaining the National Day of Prayer and Reconciliation.
