WERE THREATS BY BINWELL MPUNDU AND EMMANUEL JAY JAY BANDA JUST MERE RHETORIC?

WERE THREATS BY BINWELL MPUNDU AND EMMANUEL JAY JAY BANDA JUST MERE RHETORIC? Zambians, it is important that we look back at some of the statements made before the General Elections and compare them with what happened later. This is not about finding someone guilty through social media. It is about asking serious questions, questions […]

WERE THREATS BY BINWELL MPUNDU AND EMMANUEL JAY JAY BANDA JUST MERE RHETORIC?

Zambians, it is important that we look back at some of the statements made before the General Elections and compare them with what happened later.

This is not about finding someone guilty through social media. It is about asking serious questions, questions that become disturbing when different statements and events are looked at together.

Binwell Mpundu posted a video in which he said, “In these elections, some of us have put our necks on the chopping board. We have so much to lose in this election. I am (we are) ready to be killed or to kill.”

The statement was widely shared on social media.

On another occasion, Mr Mpundu reportedly told the nation that a team was being trained in Russia to acquire special skills to protect Brian Mundubile.

Then came Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda.

During an online prayer, Mr Banda made remarks about killing President Hakainde Hichilema, before appearing to change the reference to David in the Bible.

But that was not the only disturbing statement.

Mr Banda later went online and made another statement involving C5 and President Hakainde Hichilema.

“Mulungu wanga, lekani ba C5 balizile Hakainde Mpolo-Mpolo. (My God allow the C5 unit to fire guns at Hakainde Hichilema).”

At the time, some people could have dismissed these statements as political anger, careless language or simply rhetoric.

But what happens when these statements are looked at together with what Authorities later said they discovered?

That is where the story becomes disturbing.

The State later reported that, within the wider Mundubile camp, there were individuals allegedly with military-style training and special skills, including sniper-related skills, vehicle jamming and alleged abduction techniques.

If these allegations are correct, then a serious question arises.

Was Binwell Mpundu’s statement about being “ready to be killed or to kill” simply political rhetoric?

Or was it connected to a mindset that may have existed among people around the political campaign?

There is another question.

It was also reported that some individuals associated with Brian Mundubile’s team were former C5 officers.

For ordinary Zambians, this is important because C5 is known for specialised security operations such as killing.

So, when statements about killing are followed by reports of people with special security or military skills being around the same political environment, should everything simply be dismissed as a coincidence?

Or should Authorities carefully investigate every connection?

Then came the most serious part of the story.

A Joint Defence and Security operation reportedly encountered individuals described by Authorities as a militia group, with sophisticated weapons allegedly recovered.

At that point, the matter was no longer simply about political speeches, Facebook posts or angry words.

It allegedly involved people, weapons, training and security forces.

And this raises another serious question.

If a heavily armed group was confronted by Joint Defence and Security forces, what could people reasonably expect to happen?

Would everyone simply put down their weapons and walk away?

Or, if the Authorities’ account is correct, was there a real possibility of gunfire?

This is why statements made before the incident deserve to be examined carefully.

Mr Mpundu spoke about being prepared to “be killed or to kill.”

Mr Banda made statements that many people understood as threats against the President.

Authorities later reported finding individuals allegedly with military-style skills and sophisticated weapons.

And there is another question Zambians may ask.

If Binwell Mpundu believed his statement was only innocent political rhetoric, why did he reportedly run away when the situation became serious?

That question, however, must be answered through evidence and due process, not social media speculation.

An innocent statement can be explained.

A misunderstood statement can be clarified.

And if someone is accused of wrongdoing, that person has the right to challenge the allegations through the courts.

But when words about killing, reports of military-style training, allegations of sophisticated weapons and a confrontation involving security forces appear in the same sequence of events, people will naturally start connecting the dots.

So, Zambians, we return to the original question.

Were the statements by Binwell Mpundu and Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda merely rhetoric?

Or were they warning signs that many people simply failed to recognise at the time?

Only a proper investigation, credible evidence and the courts can establish the truth.

But one thing is certain.

Words can be dismissed as rhetoric until events make people go back and listen to those words again.

– Zambian Watch News.