MMD Accuses Chilangwa Of Using Disability For Sympathy

The MMD has advised home affairs deputy minister Nixon Chilangwa not to use his disability to gain political sympathy.
Reacting to Chilangwa’s statement against Nevers Mumba, the MMD leader’s personal assistant Raphael Nakacinda said the opposition party never referred to the minister’s disability.
Nakacinda said Mumba was not aware of Chilangwa’s disability.
He said using someone’s disability was an immoral act that Mumba could not be associated with.
“We are dismayed by Chilangwa’s assertion that Dr Mumba and his team here are trying to use his disability as a campaign tool. We advise Chilangwa not to use his disability to gain political sympathy,” Nakacinda said. “Zambians already know who Dr Mumba is. They know his background, they know what he is capable of saying or doing. Our campaigns in Luapula, particularly in Kawambwa and other areas where there are elections, have been issue-based. As a party led by Dr Mumba, we have reached a stage, after three years observing the PF in government, where we need to provide alternative solutions to problems affecting Zambians.”
Nakacinda said MMD would not waste their time in their interactions with Zambians to discuss individuals and their disabilities.
He said the MMD would use time and opportunity God gives them to address social and governance evils, abuse of the public order Act and matters of constitutionalism.
Nakacinda said none of the speakers in Mumba’s team referred to Chilangwa’s disability.
“Even our candidate in Kawambwa, a former senior civil servant, wouldn’t use such terms,” said Nakacinda.
During the public rally addressed by Mumba, some MMD members shouted “icilema” while dancing with a limp in mockery of Chilangwa, who later issued a statement over the incident.
Nakacinda said he heard the shout but thought it was in reference to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.
In his statement, Chilangwa stated that it would not worry him for the former ruling party to use his disability as a campaign issue.
“If Nevers Mumba and his campaign team want to make my disability a campaign issue, that is not a problem, they are welcome because l am not ashamed to have a disability and Mumba and his team should know I have overcome the stigma of disability since l was a child and l don’t even feel it,” Chilangwa stated.
Chilangwa explained that he had not used his disability to gain anything but that he had risen and would continue rising.