Lubinda mocks whining opposition
By Mast Reporter
FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) acting president Given Lubinda says the opposition is in disarray and obsessed with complaining about arrests at the expense of national issues.
In an interview with The Mast, Lubinda said he was not a muselela kwakaba (turn coat) for him to join President Hakainde Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND).
Announcing his political comeback after a months long self-imposed hiatus, Lubinda said the opposition had lost its voice when the country needed strong checks and balances.
“Two months after losing elections, the opposition are just complaining about arrests at the expense of other national issues. We are in disarray, scattered and without a coherent voice. While it is important to talk about arrests, it is important to reorganise,” he said.
Lubinda said opposition disenchantment after the August general elections had been heavier than in the previous elections.
“The 2021 elections were a huge blow to the PF, when president Edgar Lungu went into retirement, and most former ministers and MPs went into hibernation for fear of arrest. But hope rekindled a year later,” he said.
Lubinda said the opposition should learn from late former president Michael Sata who after losing in 2006 and 2008 immediately went back to the ground engaging citizens.
“I’m not a muselela kwakaba [I’m not a turn coat] to join the winning team. I’m a muselela kwatalala. I can never accept an offer to join the UPND. If I am an experienced politician, I would rather use my wealth of experience to strengthen the opposition. The opposition needs me more than the UPND now,” he said.
“After the 2001 elections, most MPs were lured to join the ruling MMD, but I remained firm. In 2006, after I left UPND, I did not join the MMD, which was in power, but joined a little-known ULP [United Liberal Party] and went to support PF’s Michael Sata, who had only one MP,” Lubinda said.
“I’m a different material. I do not grab honey from the person who went to the beehive and got stung by the bees. The UPND possesses power,” he said.
Lubinda said he initially treated his break as private, but realised citizens expected his contribution.
“What I did not know then and what I know now is that some citizens expect my contribution and are concerned with my silence,” he said.
He said he would break his silence fully in a couple of days when he addresses the media on burning national issues.
