KAMBWILI’S CHARADE

CHISHIMBA Kambwili will never cease to amaze the nation with his toxic rantings that all but prove that he is nothing but an empty drum. But then, is his behaviour strange? Much as he might want to portray himself as an intellectual giant and a force on the political front, his behaviour falls short of what is expected of a national leader. Yesterday, Mr Kambwili, the so-called consultant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had a press briefing ranting about the plot by the Patriotic Front to remove him from the political scene. For all the foul language that he continues to use against the PF leadership, Mr Kambwili is the party’s Roan Member of Parliament. He has refused to relinquish the seat after being expelled from the party and has taken the case to the courts of law. But as we noted a few days ago in one of our editorials, Mr Kambwili was now in panic mode. Why? It is now obvious that reality has finally caught up with the embattled Patriotic Front Roan Member of Parliament that he cannot have it both ways. He cannot claim to be wanting to attend the National Dialogue on the ticket of a different party - NDC - when legally he is a member of the PF. Surely, does one need the Constitutional Court to rule whether Mr Kambwili is eligible to attend the National Dialogue if not under the auspices of the PF? He is a person who is in the political wilderness because he does not know where he belongs. It is now clear for all to see that Mr Kambwili is in panic mode because the prospects of him not attending the January 18 national dialogue in Lusaka are very real. And what is coming out is what we have always said about the man, that he is an intellectual midget who has no capacity to understand issues and reason. As we noted, for the past year, Mr Kambwili has behaved as though he was the most intelligent and seasoned politician ever since he was expelled from the PF. With false bravado, he disputed his expulsion from the PF and subsequent loss of the Roan parliamentary seat by taking his case to the courts of law. He has since continued to attend parliamentary sessions, enjoying all the privileges that go with being a member of that August house. At his press briefing yesterday, Mr Kambwili was as typical of him playing to the gallery, describing those in government as thieves who are trying to stop him from attending the dialogue. He said they were afraid because he was going to expose their corrupt deeds. He again showed his intellectual flaws when he continued insisting that the January 18 gathering was a national dialogue open to all Zambians. No, Mr Kambwili, if that is your understanding, then you have missed the point completely – which is not surprising anyway. PF deputy media director Antonio Mwanza the other day tried to explain to Mr Kambwili that only party presidents and their respective secretary-generals would be allowed to attend the meeting. Surely, how would the PF stop him from attending the National Dialogue when he does not qualify to attend in the first place? Mr Kambwili continues to want to show that the government is full of thieves. He conveniently does not mention that those he accuses of being thieves and corrupt are not facing any criminal charges in court that include forgery and uttering. But then, that is how hypocrites behave. They can only see the faults of others, and not their shortcomings.