GARRY NKOMBO’S PUBLIC MELODRAMA—WHEN PERSONAL BITTERNESS OVERRIDES TRUE UPND LOYALTY
The ongoing political drama surrounding former Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo has taken a highly concerning turn. Following the unfortunate and condemnable attack against him during the filing of his nomination papers as an independent candidate, Nkombo rightfully received sweeping nationwide sympathy. But what started as a moment of genuine public goodwill is quickly being squandered by a reckless campaign of non-stop public statements.
President Hakainde Hichilema acted decisively and statefully, immediately condemning the violence and ordering law enforcement agencies to move swiftly. The police did exactly that, apprehending and detaining the suspects. Under any standard metric of political discipline, a genuine, loyal member of the UPND would have let the state mechanisms run their course. A wise leader would have used this moment to de-escalate tension, treating this internal friction as a “bedroom issue” to protect the integrity of the collective house.
Instead, Nkombo has chosen a path of total defiance, launching a tireless campaign of public statements and even dismissing the lawful arrest of the perpetrators as a mere “dress rehearsal.”
This political grandstanding brings to mind the timeless wisdom found in 2 Samuel 1:20, where King David famously cried out: “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice.”David understood a fundamental rule of survival: exposing internal fractures and family disputes only serves to arm, excite, and motivate your enemies.
Regrettably, Garry Nkombo has thrown this wisdom completely out the window. By washing his dirty linen in public, his words are actively being published “in the streets of Askelon”—much to the immense excitement and political fodder of the Tonse Alliance and other desperate opposition factions. The very adversaries who pray for the UPND government to fail are now using Nkombo’s bitterness as ammunition.
If Nkombo truly holds the interests of the party at heart, why choose a path that directly empowers the opposition? His ongoing antics are rapidly eroding his nationwide sympathy, replacing it with deep suspicion. In fact, his behaviour forces us to look closer at recent events. The decision by the leadership to sideline him and relieve him of his roles now looks entirely well-intentioned and justified.
There is clearly something deeper at play that the public is yet to fully see. However, by refusing to handle this confrontation internally and instead choosing to court the applause of opposition alliances, Garry Nkombo’s own public statements are beginning to reveal his true motives. True loyalty is tested in moments of friction. By choosing personal theatre over institutional discipline, Nkombo is proving that his priorities no longer align with the stability of the house he claims to support.
Joe Moonga Sibbuyu