KAMBWILI MUST APOLOGISE

THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has done the most sensible thing to distance itself from the xenophobic utterances made by its so-called consultant, Chishimba Kambwili. The NDC must not just distance itself from its political consultant over his xenophobic behaviour, but must act against him to show it won’t accept such behaviour. Zambians have never been xenophobic which is why the country has always attracted people from all over the world. Anyone who exhibits xenophobic tendencies is definitely going against Zambian values of being an all-accommodating society. By distancing itself from Mr Kambwili’s uncalled for attack on the innocent Indian man he found working on a road construction site, the NDC has at least shown it shares the Zambian values of embracing all races. NDC Secretary-General Mwenya Musenga states that the party does not agree with Mr Kambwili’s xenophobic attacks. Mr Kambwili was recorded in a video where he was harassing an Indian national he found driving a compactor while rehabilitating roads on Copperbelt. The verbal attack on the hapless man has raised eyebrows from many stakeholders who have condemned the attacks. It’s not strange that Mr Kambwili does not see anything wrong with his behaviour. That is not surprising given the man’s penchant for irrational behaviour. Mr Kambwili is well known for his uncouth conduct that lacks tact and diplomacy. He does not understand that as a public figure, he must be mindful of how he carries himself as well as what he says. Mr Musenge has since apologised to the people of India, stating that the attacks by the Roan Member of Parliament were unfortunate and promote xenophobic acts. Yes, we know that some organisations that have been contracted by the government to carry out major construction works in the country do bring in a certain number of workers. Some of these workers appear to be doing certain jobs that could easily be done by Zambians. As an example, there are Chinese companies working on roads and other infrastructure projects that have their nationals doing “menial” jobs. It might not always be that those are unskilled workers. Real professionals actually tend to humble themselves by doing something least expected of them. If anything, if Mr Kambwili had noticed something wrong, he could easily have engaged the company officials and asked about the composition of the workforce. He was once in Cabinet and he ought to know that. The only snag is Mr Kambwili is not an intellectual and often times plays to the gallery. His attack was a typical “spur of the moment” reaction. Even despite the wholesome condemnation of his behaviour, Mr Kambwili is adamant, that he won’t apologise because he did not do anything wrong. As far as our “esteemed” leader is concerned, he was merely trying to protect Zambian jobs. Ironically, Mr Musenge disclosed that the Roan MP employs an Asian accountant at his company in Luanshya, Mwamoneni Engineering. Mr Musenge adds that Mr Kambwili’s wife has also been working in the United Kingdom for 15 years doing the job citizens in that country can do. Is this not being two-faced? There must be some Zambian accountants that are unemployed, why can’t Mr Kambwili give them jobs at his company? But as Mr Musenge said, “We have some Asians who are Zambians by birth, descent or by change of citizenship. We least expected that from the NDC Consultant Mr Kambwili who has employed an Asian as his accountant at Mwamoneni engineering…” The least Mr Kambwili could do is offer an apology not only to the Indian firm but the man he verbally assailed and the nation for going against its values. He won’t lose anything.