Nkombo presidential ambitions bared

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:55:55 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

GARRY Nkombo’s presidential ambitions have been a thorn in Hakainde Hichilema’s flesh for years and he  would have been expelled from the UPND by now if he was not a Southerner, former UPND vice president for politics, Canisius Banda, has said.

And Dr Banda said that Mr Nkombo could not succeed the UPND leader because doing so would render the party
irrelevant.

He explained that allowing Mr Nkombo to be at the helm of the UPND would be the final and mortal confirmation that the party was a club for Tongas only.

Dr Banda also disclosed that the Mazabuka Central lawmaker had been the subject of gossip that his hidden dealings had been aimed at undermining Mr Hichilema.

“Gary is intelligent. He acts like he doesn’t want when he wants. He bides his time. His leadership potential is well known in the UPND. It has been a thorn in the side of Mr Hichilema and for years has painfully weathered these storms. The two are like two men eyeing one woman” he said.

Dr Banda pointed out that Mr Nkombo would have been expelled from the UPND if he was not Tonga, as many were jealous and envious of his talents.

He disclosed that the time when Mr Nkombo was nearly passed over as chief whip for the UPND nearly punctured his heart.

Dr Banda who is a development activist said that Mr Nkombo was troubled and that his eventual appointment pleased him immensely.

“Gary is a fine man. He is a dandy. The greatest danger to his political fortunes is tribalism. He is an acquaintance of mine, who was kept in check by my own luminosity.

“But Gary is not his own man for now. He does his boss’s bidding. Gary could make president for UPND, but for now, he can’t” he said. That then would be the final and mortal confirmation that the UPND is a club for Tongas and Tongas only” he said.