President Michael Sata yesterday told Geoffrey Mwamba and Given Lubinda to hold their own meeting after they spoke at length over the firing of Wynter Kabimba at a campaign rally the Head of State addressed in Solwezi.
Like he did in Mkushi, President Sata allowed PF secretary general Edgar Lungu to introduce party members of parliament, members of the central committee and councillors, but Lubinda and Mwamba used the occasion to express joy at the dismissal of former justice minister Kabimba.
When called to introduce himself, Lubinda sighed audibly through the microphone three times to signal his relief, which he later explained to be as a result of “a sense of fresh air” since Lungu took over the position of secretary general.
“I sighed three times Your Excellency. There is a sense of fresh brain in the PF now. There is a sense of fresh air, a sense of fresh breath now, a sense of peace, love and unity. Some of us were in the wilderness, but I said it before that the one who cast a spell on the PF will be exposed by himself. I would like to borrow the words of my friend Chishimba Kambwili.
I wish that his political soul will rest in eternal peace,” Lubinda said in apparent reference to Kabimba.
He went on to eulogise Lungu for swiftly moving to provide a road map for the constitution-making process within weeks of being appointed justice minister.
“Congratulations President Sata for appointing my good friend as secretary general. The issue which was bringing unnecessary confusion and tension in the country, Edgar has already taken the constitution matter to a round-table discussion,” said Lubinda.
Similarly, Mwamba did not rally any support for the PF Solwezi Central parliamentary candidate Newton Malwa, nor did he mention the candidate’s name throughout his 10-minute address. He instead used the moment to express his joy at the sacking of Kabimba two weeks ago.
“You don’t know what you have done Your Excellency. On 28th August 2014, PF was rebranded after you took that bold decision, which was welcomed not only by the PF; the whole country celebrated. Edgar is a level-headed man.
He cannot bring confusion in the party, unlike the former honourable.
People thought when I resigned I was going to form a political party, but that is not possible…” Mwamba continued before he was interjected by Lungu.
“Your Excellency, you have asked me to tell these two men to hold their own meetings,” Lungu said. “I am telling these men now to stop and hold their own meetings. They will come back Your Excellency after the elections to come and address the people.”
In instructing Lungu, President Sata said the rally was not organised for the two members of parliament to talk about themselves.
“Can you go and tell those two to hold their own meetings if they want to talk about that; this is not their rally,” he said.
Shortly afterwards, the PF choir was called to perform before President Sata addressed the gathering.
In his address, President Sata tasked Malwa to go round North Western Province once elected member of parliament to meet people and record their problems, which he should take to him.
“Being an MP is not only about being able to talk. You have to go round, meet the people in this province. Hear their problems and come to see me, I will help you,” he said.
Earlier, President Sata reiterated his call for parents to send their children to school.
“Mr Malwa, have you seen all these people? Where are these children going? Some do not go to school. Some of them have been expelled from school.
There are some people who do not have children, but those who have children what plans do you have for your children? The Kaonde people gave us a saying: ‘Muzungu wabula kajo kumusebenzela ne’. (I cannot work for a whiteman who has no money) The future of this country is in the hands of the young people,” said President Sata.