GARY Nkombo started fighting me when we were in opposition, the PF would beat me and want to kill me, he would be drinking with them, claims President Hakainde Hichilema. And President Hichilema has accused Nkombo of working with NRPUP leader Brian Mundubile. Speaking when addressing Mazabuka residents during a rally, President Hichilema who spoke […]

GARY Nkombo started fighting me when we were in opposition, the PF would beat me and want to kill me, he would be drinking with them, claims President Hakainde Hichilema.

And President Hichilema has accused Nkombo of working with NRPUP leader Brian Mundubile.

Speaking when addressing Mazabuka residents during a rally, President Hichilema who spoke in Tonga said Nkombo had been a problem for a long time.

“Listen, Nkombo started fighting me a long time ago, he started a long time fighting me, even when we were in opposition. The PF beat me and wanted to kill me in Sesheke, the one who pulled out a gun to kill me was Kaizer Zulu, on month later Nkombo was drinking beer with someone who wanted to kill me, in Kafue. Even you what can you think? You will think he’s with the people who are fighting me. Bowman Lusambo who was in PF, used to beat us as UPND, after they finished beating us, Nkombo was drinking beer with him in the evening. When I called him and I talked to him, he used to say ‘forgive me Mr president I have heard’, someone who doesn’t listen. Gary has been a problem for a long time. God gave me a calm heart, Kampyongo arrests us and throws teargas at us, in the evening Nkombo is drinking with him, when Kampyongo was minister. What were they discussing?” President Hichilema wondered.

“We agreed on Bill 7 in the UPND national management. We went to Parliament and Cabinet, we agreed, then on the day he stabbed me in the ribs. He sat in Parliament, time for voting came, he didn’t vote, he didn’t press on the computer, he just folded his arms. I just look at him with one eye saying ‘he has started again’. He lied that he also voted, he didn’t, he didn’t want a new constituency. Why does he want to stand when he refused to vote for Bill 7? He refused Bill 7 which brought you Magoye East, Magoye West and split Mazabuka Central so that there is more CDF money in Mazabuka. At home, you agree with the children that you go to the farm and one of them refuses, isn’t that being stubborn? What can you do? You let him be. Let him not lie to you. Let’s talk about this issue because my friend is insulting a lot, a real man doesn’t talk anyhow”.

President Hichilema further claimed that Nkombo would attend Cabinet meetings in a drunk state.

“Now listen how Nkombo is a problem, in 1998, we had a by election in 1998 when Bennie Mwiinga died, he was in MMD, he wasn’t in UPND from the beginning, we are the ones who founded UPND in 1997. He stood in Mazabuka on the MMD ticket, we nominated [Griffin] Nang’omba, we beat him. I told him not to stand on MMD, the people of Mazabuka want this, he didn’t listen. Even if you tell him, even when you see him open his eyes wide open as if he has heard, he doesn’t listen. Don’t follow him, he will drown you in the river. How am I bad? In 1998 we defeated him as UPND, 2001, he refused to join Mazoka, Mazoka sent [me] to say ‘tell your young brother to come here’. I called him home and told him that they shouldn’t form FDD but join UPND, he told me ‘Mazoka can’t win, he’s a junior in politics’. Mazoka to be a junior to Nkombo? You have seen his behavior?” he wondered.

“When you compare Mazoka and Nkombo, who is a man for real? When you compare Hakainde and Nkombo, who is a real man? Achepa sana, left over nshima ikola, and then you combine it with beer. Every time you are drunk, even in Cabinet he was sleeping, how can you work? How will you work for the people of Mazabuka? Everytime you are drunk. Have you ever seen me drunk? My mind is always clear. In 2001, if it wasn’t for Nkombo and his friends forming FDD, Mazoka would have won. Mazoka lost with a small vote, and the votes that made him lose went to FDD and his friends, don’t forget history. If someone is a problem, he can’t change, he persists. He lost in 1998 and 2001 to us, in 2006 when Mazoka died, it’s me who brought him to stand here, he was in FDD, I brought him to stand on UPND and told him ‘you have been losing’. And you people voted for him for the first time. 2011, 2016 and 2021, I let him stand and he won, how am I bad? You have seen the bad person”.

President Hichilema disclosed that he had a meeting with Nkombo where he had agreed that he would not stand in the August polls.

“He’s was in Parliament for 20 years under the UPND ticket, you have to respect the party that made you be MP for 20 years. From the time he became MP, a girl child can be born, go to school, complete and get pregnant and become a mother, while Nkombo is still MP. Why can’t he allow others to be MP too? From [Chief] Mwanachingwala there are no other people? Here in Mazabuka, don’t we have other people? Let him be, he’s mad, don’t follow him, he will drown you in the river, we know him, that’s how he is. We don’t want insults, but let’s respect each other. You want me to reveal something to you? Nkombo is working with Mundubile, his symbol the candle and the lamp is something they agreed on. Will you accept to go to Mundubile? Will you follow Nkombo? Don’t follow him, he’s been in Parliament for 20 years and should be grateful to me. When he didn’t vote for Bill 7, I called him to my house and we agreed that he won’t stand here,” said President Hichilema.