HH ACCUSES GARY NKOMBO OF LONG-STANDING REBELLION AND DEFYING AGREED UPND POSITIONS. President Hakainde Hichilema has accused former Local Government Minister and Mazabuka Central Independent Member of Parliament Gary Nkombo of harbouring a long-standing rebellious attitude towards him and the UPND. Addressing thousands of people in Mazabuka, President Hichilema alleged that when UPND members were […]

HH ACCUSES GARY NKOMBO OF LONG-STANDING REBELLION AND DEFYING AGREED UPND POSITIONS.

President Hakainde Hichilema has accused former Local Government Minister and Mazabuka Central Independent Member of Parliament Gary Nkombo of harbouring a long-standing rebellious attitude towards him and the UPND.

Addressing thousands of people in Mazabuka, President Hichilema alleged that when UPND members were attacked and nearly killed by suspected Patriotic Front members in Sesheke while the party was in opposition, Mr. Nkombo was seen associating with the alleged assailants in Kafue barely a month later.

The President further alleged that Mr. Nkombo was frequently seen drinking with former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo at a time when Mr. Lusambo was publicly attacking him and the UPND.

He questioned what Mr. Nkombo and his political rivals discussed and agreed upon during their meetings.

President Hichilema also accused Mr. Nkombo of defying an agreed party and Cabinet position by failing to vote for Bill 7, which later became Act No. 13.

He said Mr. Nkombo’s failure to support the legislation amounted to rejecting the UPND’s agenda, which included creating new constituencies to increase the number of communities benefiting from Constituency Development Fund allocations.

President Hichilema further recalled that Mr. Nkombo allegedly declined to join the UPND in 2001 and described its founding president, Anderson Mazoka, as a political junior who could not win an election.

He said despite Mr. Nkombo’s alleged rebellious conduct, the UPND repeatedly adopted him to contest the Mazabuka Central parliamentary seat, which he won for four terms.

By Michael Himusa Jnr