Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:35:46 +0000
By Bennie Mundando
CHISHIMBA Kambwili is welcome to join the UPND despite insulting us because there are no permanent enemies in politics and we desperately need the Copperbelt vote to win the presidential election, UPND in Southern Province have said.
And the party has praised the Roman Catholic Church for its efforts in brokering the reconciliation process between the ruling PF and the UPND, saying the church had remained resolute in ensuring peace prevailed in Zambia since independence unlike briefcase mushrooming churches whose leaders were only interested in making money.
Sinazongwe district spokesperson George Bbabbi told the Daily Nation yesterday that just like any other person, Mr. Kambwili was just human, prone to making mistakes and that the party in the province had accepted his apology and was ready to welcome him if he ever made a decision to join.
Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili and former Chimwemwe lawmaker Mwenya Musenge are believed to have sneaked into the Southern Province to personally apologise to chiefs and ordinary people.
Mr Kambwili had during the last campaign period stated that the people of Southern Province would not vote for Jesus if he stood against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who was one of them.
Mr. Bbabbi said the presence of Mr. Kambwili in UPND would bolster its chances of making significant inroads on the Copperbelt because of his popularity, adding that the province was among two other provinces – Lusaka and Eastern – which he said determined which way the election tide blew, hence the need to bring on board people who would add value to the party.
He said Mr. Kambwili’s apology was testimony that he was remorseful of his actions which was normal and that the party had no problem working with him if he wished to join, saying his political acumen would help the UPND form Government in the next election.
“Mr. Kambwili is only human and he makes mistakes just like anyone of us. He has realised his shortcomings and has apologised to the people of Southern Province and for us, we have forgiven him and we do not have a problem if he wishes to join the party, he is welcome because politics is about numbers. Copperbelt is a very important region just like Lusaka and Eastern to winning an election.
“We know that some chiefs in the province are saying they have never invited him but that is not an issue to us. There are chiefs like Mweemba who have openly expressed their desire to meet him after he apologised and so, a few chiefs who are opposed to forgiving Mr. Kambwili for reasons best known to themselves, have very little influence on what we stand for as a party,” Mr. Bbabbi said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bbabbi has chided some churches for playing a lukewarm role towards the tension that had engulfed the country by failing to provide counsel to political players and leaving the huge burden to the Catholic Church alone.
He said some churches had remained irrelevant to national building because they had attached great importance to money-making and not soul-saving and therefore, were not bothered whether the country was on the rocks or not as long as they were making money.
“Catholic Bishops have proved that their cause is just. They have continued preaching peace and unity in the country and we thank them for their role in facilitating peace and reconciliation in Zambia.
“These understand what Christianity entails and cannot be compared to fake pastors of mushrooming churches who are a danger to society and country at large. Churches must emulate the Catholics in uniting the country,” he said.
