Leader of the opposition in Parliament Robert Chabinga held the mother of all press briefings on Sunday, highlighting a barrage of issues including the apparent switch of allegiance from former president Edgar Lungu to the incumbent, Hakainde Hichilema.
“President Hakainde Hichilema has taught me the practice of politics with integrity, focus and humility. I used my own family resources to hold an impeachment motion against Edgar Lungu until 2021. Even his own ministers and MPs wanted him gone,” Chabinga said excitedly.
He reiterated that effective November 1, 2023, he had taken up the role of leader of the opposition, substituting Brian Mundubile, the PF Mporokoso MP.
“And you media must know that there is no PF faction, there is only one PF led by president Miles Bwalya Sampa, Morgan Ng’ona as secretary general and I as leader of the opposition. Anyone who writes PF faction will be sued and we shall wind you up and I’m an expert in that. I am not threatening but just giving a piece of friendly advice,” Chabinga threatened, obviously recounting his role in the liquidation of the Post newspaper by the PF regime.
The leader of the opposition also said Zambia currently has no opposition with the calibre of leadership demonstrated by President Hichilema and the UPND.
In the words of a man, leading almost half of the members of parliament, President Hichilema and the UPND administration have scored deliverables on all fronts.
“The current opposition is devoid of alternatives to all these visionary policies. And as leader of the opposition in parliament, I pledge that we will be a voice of positive criticism to this government for the common benefit of all Zambians,” Chabinga said.
Chabinga, who is also PF Mafinga MP, said the party is not a member of the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) and any association with the group will be regarded as an impersonation.
“Those are power-hungry and desperate individuals seeking public office to clean a dented image. All they want is to come back and finish looting the Treasury,” he heralded.
Chabinga said President Hichilema had restored integrity to State House as under the reign of Edgar Lungu, the institution was abused as a centre for illicit transactions.
“For you to cut a deal then, you needed to be connected to State House. State House is now respected,” he said.
According to Chabinga, it was unfortunate that Lungu had returned to active politics as opposed to political retirement and occupying the role of statesman.
“And it is delusional to claim that ordinary citizens are calling for the return of former president Lungu who left this country in an economic quagmire. We all saw how many lives were lost during his reign due to political violence and I hope Mr Lungu has introspected and repented from all those atrocities,” he went on.
Chabinga asked all PF MPs to be loyal to Sampa and avoid being cowed into a direction opposite.
Interesting who Chabinga himself is loyal to; Hichilema or Sampa!
