Hichilema calls out Nkombo of undermining him, links him to Mundubile
President Hakainde Hichilema has launched a strongly worded attack on former minister Gary Nkombo, accusing him of undermining his leadership for years and alleging that he is now working with opposition leader Brian Mundubile.
Mazabuka, 24 July – Speaking in Tonga at a rally in Mazabuka, President Hichilema claimed his differences with Nkombo stretched back to the years when the United Party for National Development (UPND) was in opposition.
He alleged that while UPND members faced attacks and intimidation under the former Patriotic Front (PF) government, Nkombo maintained friendly relations with some senior PF figures.
“Nkombo started fighting me a long time ago, even when we were in opposition,” President Hichilema said.
He recalled an incident in Sesheke in which he alleged that former presidential political adviser Kaizer Zulu had threatened him with a firearm. President Hichilema claimed that about a month later, Nkombo was seen drinking with Zulu in Kafue.
He also accused Nkombo of socialising with former PF officials Bowman Lusambo and Stephen Kampyongo at a time when the UPND was facing political pressure from the then governing party.
“When I called him and talked to him, he used to say, ‘Forgive me, Mr President, I have heard,’” President Hichilema said. “Gary has been a problem for a long time.”
The President questioned what Nkombo had been discussing with senior PF figures while the UPND was in opposition.
President Hichilema also accused Nkombo of defying the UPND’s position on the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill No. 7.
He said the proposed legislation had been discussed and agreed upon by the UPND national management and Cabinet, but alleged that Nkombo failed to vote when the matter came before Parliament.
“We agreed on Bill 7 in the UPND national management. We went to Parliament and Cabinet, we agreed, then on the day he stabbed me in the ribs,” President Hichilema said.
“He sat in Parliament. When the time for voting came, he didn’t vote. He didn’t press on the computer; he just folded his arms.”
President Hichilema argued that Nkombo should not seek another parliamentary term after allegedly refusing to support legislation which, he said, resulted in additional constituencies and increased Constituency Development Fund allocations for Mazabuka.
The President also made personal allegations about Nkombo’s alcohol consumption, claiming the former minister had on some occasions attended Cabinet meetings after drinking and had fallen asleep during proceedings.
The claims were made during a political rally, and Nkombo’s response to the allegations was not immediately available.
President Hichilema further revisited Nkombo’s political history, recalling the 1998 Mazabuka parliamentary by-election following the death of Bennie Mwiinga.
He said Nkombo contested on the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) ticket while the UPND fielded Griffin Nang’omba, who defeated him.
According to President Hichilema, he had advised Nkombo against standing on the MMD ticket but his advice was ignored.
He also accused Nkombo of refusing to join the UPND ahead of the 2001 general election and instead associating with politicians who formed the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
President Hichilema argued that the split in the opposition vote contributed to UPND founder Anderson Mazoka’s narrow defeat in the 2001 presidential election.
“In 2001, if it wasn’t for Nkombo and his friends forming FDD, Mazoka would have won,” he claimed.
President Hichilema said that despite their political differences, he later helped bring Nkombo into the UPND following Mazoka’s death in 2006.
He said Nkombo subsequently represented Mazabuka on the UPND ticket for several terms, including after the 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections.
The President questioned why Nkombo should continue seeking parliamentary office after serving for about two decades, arguing that other people in Mazabuka should also be given an opportunity to represent the constituency.
“He was in Parliament for 20 years under the UPND ticket. You have to respect the party that made you MP for 20 years,” President Hichilema said.
The President then alleged that Nkombo was now working with National Restoration Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP) leader Brian Mundubile.
“Nkombo is working with Mundubile,” President Hichilema claimed, adding that there was an agreement between the two politicians.
He urged his supporters in Mazabuka not to follow Nkombo politically.
President Hichilema also disclosed that he had previously held talks with Nkombo at his residence following the Bill 7 vote, where he said the two agreed that Nkombo would not contest in the August elections.
“When he didn’t vote for Bill 7, I called him to my house and we agreed that he won’t stand here,” President Hichilema said.
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