HE’S A SADIST
…Akatumbi kaleisa minister under fire for mocking Lungu family
By Mast Reporter
MUCHINGA Province Minister Njavwa Simutowe is not only childish but also a sadist for mocking the family of late former president Edgar Lungu and insulting him in death, All People’s Congress (APC) president Nason Msoni has said.
Zambians have continued condemning Simutowe on various media platforms for celebrating the judgement of the High Court of South Africa against the family of Lungu on the burial of his remains, for using demeaning language and mocking the family.
Lungu died in Pretoria on June 5 and is yet to be buried.
Simutowe was captured in a video in which United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres, comedian Bikiloni and another man are seen dancing and heard pouring scorn on Lungu’s family and describing his corpse in demeaning language.
As the two are dancing and singing “akatumbi kaleisa [the small corpse is coming]” minister Simutowe is also seen joining in the dancing and cruel mockery of the Lungu family behind them, an act that has drawn sharp public condemnation.
All People’s Congress (APC) president Nason Msoni yesterday described Simutowe as childish and a sadist.
“How do you celebrate the death of someone’s father in the manner those sadists are doing? Something is wrong with these people in government. Can they tell the nation why they hate former president Lungu in this manner? This is not humane. I am shocked that the entire Cabinet minister can dance after that silly judgment. If a minister can celebrate, then what other parties are being held at Community House to celebrate that ruling?” Msoni wondered.
He said the UPND and its leadership were evil and Zambians should regret giving them power.
The harsh public backlash has forced Simutowe to apologise saying he regrets being found in the video showing people celebrating the imminent return of the remains of the former head of state to Zambia.
According to a news item monitored on Luswepo Community Radio, Simutowe said it was unfortunate that he had featured in the insensitive video which is circulating on social media.
Simutowe, who is the UPND member of Parliament for Mbala, joined comedian Bikiloni and other UPND cadres in mocking and insulting the former first family boasting that the State was powerful.
He is seen dancing along with other UPND cadres who were describing Lungu’s body as akatumbi, a derogatory Bemba word referring to something of low value.
The 37-second video, which starts with a song mocking the Lungu family, has been shared widely, showing Simutowe dancing and celebrating behind Bikiloni and his friend.
“Aleisa, aleisa, akatumbi kaleisa kwenyu [he’s coming, he’s coming; thesmall corpse is coming, we’ve scored]. We are burying here. It is kwenyu when you have a government that is loved by the people. It is kwenyu, akatumbi kaleisa is kwenyu. We are burying here, pamene paja pali banzanke [right where his colleagues are buried], camene tifuna akagone paja pali banzanke, twalemyeba, iwe Tasila [what we wanted him to sleep where others are sleeping; we were telling you Tasila],” the UPND cadres sang.
Simutowe, who is seen in the video in the background, was heard saying “kwenyu”, agreeing with the other revellers that Lungu should be buried at Embassy Park by joining those buried there already.
“Twalebeba, kuti mwalwa no buteko, kwenyu, [we told them you can’t fight the government and expect to win],” he said.
Last Friday, the Pretoria Division of the Gauteng High Court ordered the Lungu family to hand over the former president’s body to the Zambian government for repatriation and burial.
This follows a law suit filed by Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha on behalf of the government.
But the family immediately appealed the judgement, automatically staying the repatriation pending the outcome.
