PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri yesterday told parliament that her husband had to quit his international job to come and support her after he heard that she was suffering to the level of Chishimba Kambwili buying her toilet paper.
Delivering her maiden speech to the House, Phiri who is a nominated member of parliament said her husband could not take the news of her purported suffering, and decided to quit his job to be with the family.
“My speech would not be complete if I don’t thank my spouse who has been with me, who has stood by me be it rain, be it sunshine. Mr speaker, if it were other men, I don’t know where I could have been this time. This spouse has ended up giving up his international job to come and support his wife as she pursues her political career. He is a rare man especially for those who are coming from my field, the aviation field. They know that. If somebody comes to your house and starts describing your toilet, it means you have fed him too much for them not to hold,” said Phiri.
“Mr speaker my husband got concerned and gave up his job when he realized and heard that his wife had gone back to the village to be using newspapers as tissue. Mr speaker he realize that he had to come and support me sir. Mr speaker, as leaders, some of those who speak loudest, I am happy that my husband could come and help look after the children because some of those leaders have even failed to look after their own children. We have seen what they have posted on the internet. Be careful when you are hating me. I am so proud to be part of the ruling party which has brought about the three fundamentals which we need to develop this country.”
In October last year, Kambwili bragged that he used to buy tissue for Phiri.
Speaking to Journalists at his Kabulonga residence in Lusaka, Kambwili wondered why Phiri was boasting that she was married to a wealthy man who even built her a mansion when he could not afford to buy toilet tissue.
“My dear sister Mumbi Phiri, if you live in a glass house don’t throw stones. I have avoided talking about you because you are a friend but you are messing yourself up. Don’t go on the radio and start defending yourself ‘no me I was married to a man who was very wealthy that’s why I built that house’ when you have not even been asked. Wait until the Anti- corruption one day asks you. Akanwa kamilandu kalaibala (a guilty mouth provokes itself or the guilty are always afraid) Mumbi don’t tell people that you were married to a wealthy man. I used to buy toilet tissue for you and bathing soap for you who is married to a wealthy man, mulekwatako insoni (learn to have some shame), I would go into your house Mumbi elo nasanga namulepula inyunshi ensho mulebomfwa mu toilet elo natila Mumbi, MP inyunshi mu toilet (I would find you have cut pieces of newspapers for use in your toilet then I would say Mumbi are you really using these newspaper in your toilet)? And then I would go to Shoprite and buy for you,” said Kambwili.