Amos Chanda regrets kambwili brawl

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda (Picture by Albert Mpezeni)

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda says he regrets responding to Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili in the manner he did in a phone conversation by telling him that he has HIV/AIDS.

In a recorded phone conversation between the two, Mr Chanda called Mr Kambwili a dog and accused him of being behind the death of Deocious Kashimbaya of Chingola who died in the 90s.

But in a statement obtained by Q-news, Mr Chanda says his harsh response to Mr Kambwili was a moment of lapse in judgment in the face of relentless malice, unprovoked attacks and repeated public abuse.

He says after reflection he regrets his response.

MMr Chanda regrets that he should not have responded in the manner he did despite the deep personal injury Mr Kambwili’s unwarranted attacks have caused him both in his private and public capacities.

Earlier, the Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) demanded that Mr Chanda apologises unreservedly to People Living with HIV and Mr Kambwili.

TALC National Coordinator Felix Mwanza expressed disappointment over the unpalatables and insulting language used by Mr Chanda towards Mr Kambwili.

Mr Mwanza said the words used by the presidential aide purely border on hate speech with the venom of stigma to the over 1.2 million Zambians living with HIV and Aids.

He regretted that at the time when the country has made gigantic efforts in combating the disease by investing in programs aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, including treatment and prevention programs, it’s disheartening that such hate and stigmatizing language is coming from the president’s aide.