EMBATTLED National Democratic Party (NDC) founder Chishimba Kambwili says he has never in his life heard of one being given an ultimatum for wanting to join a political party.
Kambwili was speaking to journalists after appearing at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Asked if he had been given an ultimatum on rejoining the PF by ruling party officials who had repeatedly invited him back to rejoin, Kambwili said he had never heard of receiving ultimatums in his whole life.
“Are you sure? If you want to join a party, they should give you an ultimatum? What a way of running things. People have been saying that, ‘Kambwili wants to join PF,’ then PF has to give you an ultimatum? I have never heard that in my whole life. You want to join people and they give you an ultimatum? I have never heard that,” Kambwili, a former Roan PF member of parliament, replied.
Also asked on whether his son, Mwamba, would contest as a member of parliament for the Roan constituency, Kambwili said his son was an individual and made his own choices.
“Just like the Bush (family), the father was (U.S.) president. Another Bush, president. The other Bush is (former Florida) governor. If it’s in the blood, it’s in the blood. And he is an individual, he makes his own choices. If he thinks he can run and the people can support him, why not?” he replied.
Further asked on which ticket his son would want to contest on, Kambwili said it was the NDC.
“Mwamba and I are NDC so which party ticket are you referring to? Mwamba is an individual. I just heard that people came to see him and he said, ‘I’m interested.’ He is 28 years old for heaven’s sake! He doesn’t live in my house. He has his own family. He has given me a grand-child. He has the latitude to make his own decision,” replied Kambwili.
Meanwhile, Kambwili, who once served as President Edgar Lungu’s information and broadcasting services minister, said the ongoing NDC internal wrangles would be resolved by the owners of the party at the forthcoming general conference to be held soon.