LUSAKA – Patriotic Front returnee Chishimba Kambwili has castigated opposition party UPND for lying that he abducted relatives of its president Hakainde Hichilema for political scores.
Kambwili, a former leader of NDC, said the allegations are far from true and a mere reflection of the shallow politics being followed by the front led by Hichilema.
“I just want to inform the nation that I am extremely disappointed with the kind of politics being portrayed by the UPND were they accuse me of having abducted some relatives of Hakainde Hichilema and put them at my house for two nights and ask them to issue statements disparaging the UPND President Mr Hakainde Hichilema.
“I think this is not the way politics is supposed to be conducted. I have never abducted anybody in my life and I have never brought any stranger to my home whatsoever.
“So for that Honorable Gary Nkombo and that lady who claims that I abducted them and kept them at my house for two nights is an excellent lair.
“I don’t even know that lady to begin with and I called honourable Gary Nkombo this morning (Tuesday) to register my disappointment.
“He promised me to find the number for that lady and he will come back to me because I told him this is not the way politics is supposed to be conducted.
“Since Gary did not come back to me for an apology or retraction, I have consequently reported the matter to the police for criminal liable because really you can not defame a person with an impunity like that. I am not a person who plays politics of violence.
“I am not a person who plays politics of abduction. I have never done those things in my life.
“I think if people want to win elections, let them win elections on merit. This idea of creating stories that are neither here nor there is unfortunate.
“My dear brother Gary, I respect you a lot, but what you have done to me is unacceptable. You can’t defame somebody with an impunity like that.
“You know, abduction is a very serious criminal offence. And to tell the whole world that Chishimba Kambwili abducted a person is unfortunate, so I have reported the matter so that police can investigate and tell the nation that I never abducted those people,” a disappointed Kambwili said.
Zambia will hold its general elections on August 12 this year and with the campaign period already in motion, a series of character assassination events will be expected to unfold.
The battle will certainly be focused on incumbent Edgar Chagwa Lungu and serial loser Hakainde Hichilema, who is being tipped to finally claim victory.
