National Democratic Congress (NDC) secretary general Mwenya Musenge has warned the party’s ‘consultant’ Chishimba Kambwili to stop masquerading as a member of the party and posing as its president.

But Chishimba Kambwili says he has no time to respond to Musenge because he understands that the latter is being used by some people in the Patriotic Front to derail the NDC from succeeding in the upcoming Roan parliamentary by-elections.

In a statement, Thursday, Musenge asked Kambwili to stop parading himself as leader of the NDC and appointing people to positions, saying the former chief government spokesperson did not belong nor hold any position in the party.

“As far as the party is concerned, Mr. Kambwili does not hold any position in the NDC. We have noticed with regret and concern that the later is masquerading as NDC president in Roan constituency where he is campaigning for the NDC candidate in next month’s Parliamentary by-elections. We want to clearly state, that the position of NDC President will be discussed by the central committee in due course. Further, we want to warn Mr Kambwili to stop making any appointments of office bearers or hold any meetings under the name of the NDC,” stated Musenge.

“For instance, Mr Kambwili has appointed a campaign team in Roan constituency without the blessings and endorsement of the party. If Mr Kambwili is interested in joining the NDC, he should apply through normal channels. We also advise Mr Kambwili to stop using vulgar language and be civil as he assists the NDC campaign in Roan.”

But reacting to Musenge’s statement in an interview, Kambwili said he was busy with campaigns in Roan and had no time to respond to people wishing to derail him.

“I cannot speak on behalf of Mwenya Musenge and I don’t have time to answer Mwenya Musenge. I have seen a statement issued by Musenge [asking me to stop masquerading as NDC president] but I have no time to respond to that and if that statement has come from Mwenya Musenge I have no time to answer him. We are busy with the campaigns so I would rather concentrate on the campaigns than answering Mwenya Musenge. Mwenya Musenge should go and ask the NDC central committee who appointed the campaign team. The truth of the matter is that I am not the one who appointed the campaign team and I have not time to answer Mwenya Musenge. I don’t want to have a negative discourse with him because I don’t want to derail our campaign and we have better things to discuss in the ongoing campaign than start answering Mwenya Musenge,” Kambwili said.

Asked what he made of Musenge’s actions against him, Kambwili said Musenge’s maneuvers were a scheme to derail the campaign and make NDC fail to succeed in Luanshya.

“Exactly! It is. But we are focused. It is a scheme to derail us but we are focused. That’s why am even saying that I have no time to waste by answering Mwenya Musenge. I don’t want to go into details of how people are using Mwenya Musenge but I have already said that I don’t want to waste time,” said Kambwili.