NATIONAL Democratic Congress NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili says he can never be intimidated and has vowed to increase the volume now that he is out of prison.
On Monday, Lusaka Principal Resident Magistrate David Simusamba finally granted Kambwili K100,000 cash bail, with two working sureties from reputable institutions to be bound in the like sum. The total amount was therefore K300,000.
And speaking to journalists after his release, Tuesday, Kambwili, who was welcomed by scores of NDC supporters at Kamwala Reprimand Prison, said he could never be intimidated.
“I will have a press briefing tomorrow (today) to talk about this ordeal. But I just want to thank the people of Zambia that I can never be intimidated! This is political persecution and I am not scared of being persecuted. I will increase the volume as usual,” Kambwili said.
And speaking when he addressed his supporters at his Kabulonga residence, Kambwili thanked NDC members for their support.
“Ndefwaya ukumitotela bonse (I want to thank you all) for your support. Without you, I cannot be encouraged. I am extremely humbled that from the time I was jailed, you have been there for me, you have been there for my family and some of you were spending nights at prison. I want to thank you so much for your commitment. Ndefwaya ukumilaya ukutila ati (I want to assure you that) this political persecution is nothing to me, there is nothing that I can be sacred of. These things happen even when we were in opposition in PF if you don’t know balinkakile nakabili (I was arrested) on trumped up charges. I was jailed for 30 days,” said Kambwili.
“And I thought ba PF elyo tuleisa mu (when we are in) power you learn best practices from history and discard bad practices. But it appears that we are impressing filya fine ba MMD balecita nabo efyo balefwaya ukuchita (the PF are emulating the MMD) which is very unfortunate. I went to prison for not committing an offence at all. The only offence I have committed is to speak for the people of Zambia. And I will never ever be intimidated! In any case what they have they are only allowing me to put more volume. Ninaka sana kuti mwaya kuma yanda mukutusha naine ntusheko (I am tired, you can equally go home as well and rest).”
On October 14, this year, magistrate Simusamba convicted and sentenced Kambwili to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour on charges of forgery and uttering a false document. He however, acquitted him on the other charge of giving false information to a public officer.
