By CLEVER ZULU –

.Kambwili

GOVERNMENT has castigated the clergy and some opposition leaders doubting President Edgar Lungu’s fitness.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili said Pilgrim Wesleyan Church of God pastor Bob Sinamusanga, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) vice-president Edwin Zulu and United Party for National Development (UPND) national chairperson Mutale Nalumango’s comments in yesterday’s The Post newspaper are unfortunate.
“Mrs Nalumango is a mother who is supposed to be more caring than she is conducting herself. Anyway, abantu bamo babipa imitima ngefyo babipa pa menso. Fwebambi twalibipa pamenso lelo imitima yesu isuma (….some people’s hearts are as bad as their faces. Some of us have bad faces but good hearts),” he said.
Mr Kambwili said some attacks on Government and the President were being made in an effort to threaten investor confidence so that the Kwacha and the economy of the country crumble.
“I leave it to Zambians to judge The Post, because if the economy collapses because investors decide to shun the country, it is the Zambian people to suffer.
“People of Zambia, where are we going? Surely a person cannot fall ill? Are all these people questioning the President’s illness immortal? Are they saying they cannot fall ill?,” wondered Mr Kambwili.
The chief Government spokesperson said it is unbecoming of Pastor Sinamusanga to claim that President Lungu has a drinking problem that is causing him other health complications and to claim to know him better than hundreds of thousands of people who voted for him less than two months ago.
He said Pastor Sinamusanga’s statement is mischievous for a person claiming to be a man of God and that at the rate he was going, he will remain with no flock because no believer would like to associate with a ‘heartless’ Pastor.
“One would expect a man of God to be truthful and not to mislead the nation with ugly lies as being peddled by a self-confessed former womaniser by the name of Pastor Sinamusanga,” he said.
The minister added; “We are left with no choice but to believe Pastor Sinamusanga’s past life of womanising and heavy drinking, which he, himself, confirmed, still haunts him to this very day. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Mr Kambwili said Government expects the clergy to provide spiritual healing and prayers when any person, not just the President, falls ill.
“The President has been declared fit and is back in office, so what comprehensive statement does the CCZ want on his health?”
On Senanga Central UPND Member of Parliament Likando Mufalali’s allegation that President Lungu should have himself to blame for collapsing, Mr Kambwili said the statement is heartless and sadistic, and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
“The UPND has already offered its sympathies to the President and we wonder whether this MP’s statement is the position of the party or is borne out of personal hatred for the President.
“It is our hope that the UPND have not withdrawn their positive message on the President’s health and that Mr Mufalali’s comment is simply personal, mischievous and dishonorable,” he said.