I’m not dividing Muslims - Zimba

ISLAMIC Supreme Council of Zambia (ISCZ) president Suzyo Zimba has rubbished allegations that he is dividing the Muslims in Zambia.

Last week Grand Mufti of Zambia Sheikh Assadullah Mwale alleged that Muslims were perturbed by Mr Zimba’s personal hatred towards foreign Muslims. Mr Mwale said Mr Zimba had for a long time been trying to incite local Muslim communities to hate foreign members of the faith. He said he is only against the idea of foreign nationals interfering in the affairs of the ISCZ and evading tax. “If I go to Saudi Arabia there are many foreigners there but ask them if they have a voice. The people who talk are the owners of the country, they control their affairs. Go to Dubai, it is the same thing, go to Turkey, go to Tanzania, Tanzanians are the ones running the show, go to India, go to Malawi, it is the same thing. “But here we want a situation where as long as one has the money in the pocket they want to control the affairs.

It is not about a person who has money in the pocket and for me I don’t care if someone has money in the pocket, what is good for the country is what is good and that is what I believe,” Mr. Zimba said. He added: “I am not dividing and I will never divide the Muslims because I speak the truth. What is bad is bad and what is good is good. We have Somalis in this country but if you go to Somalia do we have outsiders who talk about issues in Somalia? But here they want to talk because we have freedom. “Freedom of speech is not animal freedom. What I want is people to be responsible in what they say and do. If people are saying they are doing business fine let’s go to ZRA or their premises, are they doing the right thing?”

Mr. Zimba said he has indicated that he is not going for a second term in the elections scheduled for next month because he has groomed people to take over from him though he is eligible to stand. “Already there are problems because a lot of people still want me to continue because of what I have achieved since I took over in 2010. People have been going to my home to try to convince my wife that I stay. If the majority say I continue I will continue,” he said.