Wynter Kabimba’s Political Mouth Diarrhoea and the Collapse of His Relevance
By Chitundu
First, I wish the record to reflect that State Counsel Wynter Kabimba is someone I once respected deeply. During his days in opposition alongside the late President Michael Sata, I regarded him as one of the most capable political minds within the Patriotic Front. I was younger then, perhaps naïve, but when President Sata passed away, I genuinely believed Wynter Kabimba was among the most suitable figures to assume leadership of the PF.
I was wrong.
Time has a way of exposing both strengths and weaknesses in public figures. It has certainly corrected my understanding of leadership and politics.
Before Wynter Kabimba dismisses thousands of Patriotic Front supporters as “orphans”, he should first seek to understand what drove those people to rally behind former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
As someone who observed Edgar Lungu from outside the PF and without any personal benefit from his presidency, I came to appreciate the circumstances that shaped his rise. During the 2015 presidential election, he was subjected to relentless attacks and political hostility. He was portrayed as unfit, inadequate and undeserving long before he had the opportunity to prove himself.
That experience raised an important question in my mind. Why did Michael Sata place so much trust in Edgar Lungu?
The explanations offered by his critics were often shallow and unconvincing. While I may never fully know why President Sata entrusted him with such responsibility, I came to understand who Edgar Lungu was through his conduct in office.
His appointment of Christopher Zumani Zimba, one of his sharpest critics, and Dr Bwalya Ng’andu reflected a leader willing to seek competence and counsel beyond personal loyalty. His appointment of Christopher Mvunga was another decision I supported because the objections raised against it were political rather than constitutional.
Even after leaving office, Edgar Lungu continued engaging with individuals who had fiercely opposed him. He reflected on his presidency with people such as Dr Shishuwa Shishuwa, Brebner Changala, the late Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu and others who had openly campaigned against him. Until his death, he remained willing to fight for causes larger than personal preservation.
This reality makes Wynter Kabimba’s characterisation of PF supporters as political orphans both unfair and intellectually lazy.
Let us instead examine those whom Mr Kabimba considers the true PF.
We have Wynter Kabimba himself, Miles Sampa, Christopher Kang’ombe, Kampamba Mulenga and several others who abandoned the party during its most difficult moments.
What exactly is the virtue in Wynter Kabimba’s alliance with President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND, a party whose political philosophy and history stand in direct opposition to the PF’s founding ideals?
What is virtuous about helping weaken opposition politics while claiming to defend democracy?
What is admirable about the conduct of some of these individuals who now seek to lecture loyal PF members on political morality?
Are they exempt from criticism simply because Wynter Kabimba has declared them the authentic custodians of the PF legacy?
More disappointing, however, is Kabimba’s persistent attack on Edgar Lungu and his family.
He repeatedly speaks of corruption under the Lungu administration, yet refuses to compare those allegations with contemporary realities. He accuses the former president’s family in the court of public opinion while ignoring the fact that allegations must ultimately be proven before competent courts of law.
The creation of specialised institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Court was meant to ensure due process and evidence based justice. Yet years later, many accusations remain exactly that, accusations.
A lawyer of Wynter Kabimba’s stature should appreciate the distinction between allegation and conviction.
On issues such as cadre violence, illegal market levies and political misconduct, can he honestly claim these problems were unique to Edgar Lungu’s administration? Can he state with a clear conscience that these vices have been eliminated under the current administration?
If not, then intellectual honesty demands consistency.
It is also worth examining the political conduct of Brian Mundubile.
How has he conducted himself since joining the Patriotic Front? How has he carried himself since the PF lost power in 2021? How has he performed as Leader of the Opposition? Why has he emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the party’s future?
These are questions that deserve serious reflection rather than dismissive rhetoric.
Ultimately, Wynter Kabimba should reassess his relevance within Zambia’s contemporary political landscape.
Zambians are neither orphans nor fools. They listen carefully. They observe. They compare words with actions. Public figures lose influence not when their opponents silence them, but when citizens stop finding value in what they say.
Many Zambians once paid close attention to Wynter Kabimba because they believed he offered principled leadership. Today, however, his political partnership with those he once fiercely opposed has created more questions than answers.
Political alliances are not crimes. They are part of democratic politics. However, when those alliances are accompanied by selective outrage, historical revisionism and contempt for ordinary citizens, they inevitably erode credibility.
There is an old saying by the Roman playwright Plautus: “Wisdom is not attained by age, but by ability.”
The lesson is simple. Growing older does not automatically make one wiser. Wisdom is measured by judgement, consistency and the ability to apply principles fairly regardless of circumstance.
If Wynter Kabimba wishes to remain a relevant voice in Zambia’s political discourse, he must offer more than bitterness towards Edgar Lungu and those who continue to respect his legacy.
Respect is earned through consistency.
And consistency remains the ultimate test of political character. https://zambianwhistleblower.com/
John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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Wynter Kabimba’s Political Mouth Diarrhoea and the Collapse of His Relevance
