KAMBWILI’S WEALTH

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 14:39:50 +0000

WE have known Chishimba Kambwili to be intellectually bankrupt, uncouth and a man lacking in morality, but this time he has over reached himself by the profanity he spewed last weekend.

Even fellow opposition members have condemned him for his temerity which has no bounds in its foolishness.

Now former UPND vice-president Dr Canisius Banda has advised Mr Kambwili that “mocking the poor that you claim to represent is the worst form of uncouth conduct that can ever be exhibited by a former Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament.”

How we wish that Mr Kambwili, the expelled member of the Patriotic Front central committee would listen to advise for once and behave in a civil manner befitting a national leader.

Mr Kambwili, the embattled Roan Member of Parliament has not endeared himself to the public because of the manner he has been behaving.  The latest that has not only surprised and annoyed the public has been the manner in which he has flaunted his “wealth” and demeaned those he regards as being poor.

He certainly got it wrong when he mocked President Edgar Lungu that he used to sleep in a garage before he entered politics.  But even if Mr Lungu ever slept in a garage wouldn’t that be regarded as being part of life, growing up?  The only good thing is that Mr Lungu never lived in a garage.

But as Dr Banda says, mocking President Lungu about his poverty reflected poorly on him (Kambwili).  If anything, Mr Lungu then is more successful than Mr Kambwili – coming from a poor background to become the republican President.

We know that Mr Kambwili is a wealthy man as he constantly reminds all and sundry.  That he is one person who can afford to fly to England to have a cup of tea in the morning, and return to Zambia for his “afternoon tea.”

Yes, that is the kind of life that most Zambians even in their wildest dreams, can never hope of leading.

No one has ever accused or asked Mr Kambwili about his source of wealth.  What we all know is that he has been a major supplier to the mining companies on the Copperbelt.  That is his money, and we have no quarrel with that.

What we do not agree is, as Dr Banda attested, is his “uncouth’ conduct of insulting the poor in society.  And yet, this is a man who has ambitions to lead the nation one day as Republican President.

Dr Banda’s apt prescription for Mr Kambwili is that he should sober up, that “he must quickly desist from pouring scorn on the poor for soon God could use him as a glaring example of what gory calamities befall such people…”

For all his purported wealth, Mr Kambwili appears to lack wisdom. A man who has values does not go about boasting over his achievements, demeaning all those around him.

A wise man once said that money is like the wind.  It can easily vanish into thin air. As Dr Banda warned, “that just like all things puffed up, Mr Kambwili would deflate, and that he risked being used as a glaring example of what gory calamities befall such people.”

Not that we would wish Mr Kambwili to suffer any misfortune, but he ought to be reminded or warned that all that wealth he boasts about could easily vanish into thin air.

What people who are wise do when they have been blessed with wealth is to humble themselves and thank God for his mercies.  They do not forget their humble beginnings and begin to look down upon those less fortunate, as Mr Kambwili has been doing.

As a former Cabinet minister, Mr Kambwili is supposed to be a role model in society.  People are supposed to look up to him for inspiration.  But what moral education is Mr Kambwili imparting to the young generation?  His inflated ego?

It is not too late for Mr Kambwili to change for the better.  He should just let go of that pride that has blinded him and come down to earth where he belongs. He’ll be surprised at how quickly and warmly he will be received.