Chilubanama says Lungu has already won petition, cabinet is in place
Chilubanama (right ) with Lungu’s Political Aide Kazier Zulu
An audio recording has emerged in which a person believed to be the recently axed State House Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Chilubanama is heard telling some acquaintances that President-elect Edgar Lungu is creating his cabinet in Mfuwe because the election petition that is currently before the Constitutional Court has already been decided in his favour.
In the same audio, Chilubanama also claims recently hospitalised Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili suffered heart complications upon learning that President Lungu had left him out of his latest cabinet.
“Naawina akale…so apa na cabinet naapanga akale. Mailo alefika…naapanga cabinet apa (he [Lungu] has already won [the petitio]…he has already constituted his cabinet. He is arriving tomorrow… his cabinet is already in place),” he quipped.
He adds: “Ba Chishimba Kambwili uko balilwala baumfwa ati tabalipo (Chishimba Kambwili got sick when he heard that he has been left out).”
Asked if there was hope for Kambwili to be included in Lungu’s cabinet, Chilubanama answers: “Ba Chishimba? Nga bakapapo nishi bashuka but… *laughs* (Chishimba? He’ll be lucky if he is chosen but… *laughs*)”
Chilubanama, who was fired by Lungu on Monday August 29, is also heard saying former ministers Miles Sampa and Mulenga Sata have been making overtures to return to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), a party they ditched in the run up to the August 11 polls.
In the one and half minute recording, Chilubanama, who speaks mostly in Bemba, also mocks Sampa and UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba saying they are broke and heavily indebted as their respective trucking businesses are limping due to lack of business.
“Balefwaya ukubwela abena Miles Sampa ka, na Mulenga Sata (Miles Sampa and Mulenga Sata want to come back [to the PF]),” he says. “Nabalemba ati awe tulebwelafye mutweleleko…mukamona, just wait! Bakesa pa podium…bakesa pundafye ati awe…baleisa…no tatwaishibe efyo twalechita. Awe alabeelela. They’ve written Ati ah twalilufyanya, we didn’t know what we were doing (They have written [to Lungu] saying we want to come back, please forgive us… You will see, just wait! They will stand on a podium, they will say we didn’t know what we were doing… He [Lungu] will forgive them. They’ve written, saying we made a mistake, we didn’t know what we were doing).”
He goes on to say: “Kabili yapwa political career.…tapali… Elo balikongola ama trucks.…balebafwaya (laughs) balikongola ama trucks….awe before.…deputy minister..alikongola saana ama trucks…for transport business (Because his political career is over, there is nothing he can do. And he acquired trucks on credit…when he was deputy minister. It was for transportation business).”
Asked if Sampa was struggling to find business, Chilubanama replies: “Nikwisa angachita business? Tamumumona GBM? Balibesalila yard ku South Africa….inkongole…ama trucks yalya akongwele katwishi nga ni 250..baliyakomena mulya. Ema temper aya, taiweme gagame (Where can he do business? Can’t you see what is happening to GBM? His truck yard in South Africa has been closed because of debts. Those 250 trucks he got have been locked in the yard. That’s why tempers are high, the game is not good for him).”
But Sampa has rubbished claims that he along with Sata have written to President Lungu begging for forgiveness and asking to be allowed back into into the party.
The UDF leader says there is no element of truth to the claims, adding that he has not written a letter in the last six months.
“For the record; I have not written any letter in the last 6 months or so,” Sampa said in a brief statement posted on his Facebook page.
He then quoted the words of Suzy Kassem saying: “Never judge someone based on the words of another. Instead, study the motives behind the words of the person speaking.”.