By Daimone Siulapwa
WHO is the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) spokesperson? For those that have come off the bus and are new town, they might think it is Edward Mumbi. The former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary-general has indeed been more vocal than the MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya.
It does not take a genius to know that, if you look at the statements defending Rupiah Banda and those attacking Michael Sata, the main opposition in this year’s presidential elections, Edward Mumbi’s are likely to beat that of Dora Siliya in volume.
Mr Mumbi officially joined the MMD on August 27, 2009 after some months away from politics following his removal as PF secretary general, having succeeded Charles Chimuumbwa, who defected to the ruling party after being poached by late President Levy Mwanawasa.
In joining the MMD, Mr Mumbi said the challenges that face the nation cannot be addressed within the context of reckless populist politics, which are far from the development path and are based on a selfish quest for power, as exhibited by some political leaders, an apparent reference to PF leader Michael Sata.
He further said political leaders who chart the path of reckless political populism are dangerous to the nation and advised that no one should support them adding that it is important for Zambians to begin a real debate in the country over important issues and to gauge the capacity of some political leaders.
Question to ask is whether Mr Mumbi, since joining the MMD has been debating on important issues in politics. Again, no prizes for getting the answer right there!
Mr Mumbi has spent his close to two years in the MMD blindly defending President Rupiah Banda and attacking Michael Sata.
Understandable that he has spent most of his time attacking Michael Sata, after all, he is a former lieutenant of the PF and therefore privileged to know the man a lot more better than the average voter on the street. In a way, you would say he is a big catch for the ruling party. He is to the MMD what George Mpombo is to the PF. The guys with secrets of their perceived opponents!
Having been part of Rupiah Banda’s Cabinet, you would expect George Welo Mpombo to know a lot more about the President than you and I. Little wonder Mr Mpombo was making revelations about RB’s son and State House being involved in arms deals at the time he served as Defence minister.
In the same way, we have seen Edward Mumbi with some damning allegations such as claims that Michael Sata received $100, 000 through Finance bank which he used to fund former Change Life Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya for the Red Card Campaign.
Mr Mumbi also challenged Mr Sata to tell the nation what he has done with the money donated to the party by well-wishers saying as chief executive of the Patriotic Front at the time, he was aware of the huge sums of money the party received from well-wishers including some international donors adding that he was the one who used to take the money to the PF leader whenever the party received funds from the donor community.
“The money made available to the party by the donor community has not gone to any of the nine provinces in the country. I want him to explain to the nation where that money is. Having been chief executive of the party, I knew everything about the party and I received the money on behalf of the party and delivered it to Mr. Sata. If what I am saying about his dishonest conduct is not true, let him come out and deny it,” Mr Mumbi was quoted as saying.
However, the biggest problem is believing such characters, who today were in one party, and then the following day have moved to another due to personal frustrations bordering on their individual aspirations.
As late as the 2008 Presidential elections, Mr Edward Mumbi was chief executive officer of the PF and as such, instrumental in ensuring that Michael Sata beats Rupiah Banda in the elections that followed after the death of Levy Mwanawasa. Could he be a Plant?
Now in joining the MMD, Mr Mumbi talked about politics of popularism being dangerous to the nation. This was an obvious reference to Michael Sata. Question is at what point did Mr Mumbi realise these kind of politics are dangerous for the nation.
For the record, Mr Sata since his defeat in the 2001 elections has been on the road with populist messages which have appealed him to mostly the unemployed urban youths and workers in the informal sector. Mr Sata has talked about lowering taxes, putting more money in people’s pockets and has spoken against Chinese investors (whom he calls infestors) and also the Lebanese.
In talking about lowering taxes and putting more money in people’s pockets even without explaining how he is going to do this, Mr Sata’s popularity has surged in urban centres where the tax regime has been felt by the working class.
Now, this populist message has always been part of Mr Sata since 2001. Even at the time he was standing against Rupiah Banda in 2008, it was this message that he was preaching with Edward Mumbi, being secretary general, as his right hand man. Mr Edward Mumbi is an adult, and should have known that these kind of populist politics are dangerous for the nation. But having been relieved of his position in the PF, he now wants to believe that this is the only time he has seen the danger of such kind of politics. This is insulting the intelligence of the Zambian people.
Same goes for Mr George Welo Mpombo, who was one of the fiercest critics of Mr Sata, especially in the 2006 elections. We all remember that statement by Mr George Mpombo labeling Mr Sata as a political demagogue who the people of the Copperbelt will not tolerate. Now, we know Mr Mpombo as having a tendency to use bombastic words, even when a simple word could suffice. But just for the record, the word demagogue means a political leader who gains power by appealing to people’s emotions, and prejudices in a way that is considered manipulative and dangerous. The synonyms for this word are agitator, manipulator, crowd pleaser and haranguer. If indeed Michael Sata is a demagogue, then one ought to believe what Edward Mumbi says about the PF leader, which is that his populist politics are a danger to the nation.
But who do you believe? Mr Mpombo is today supporting Mr Sata who a few years (at a time Mr Mumbi was among his staunchest supporters) described as a demagogue. On the other hand, having been fired by Mr Sata as secretary general of the PF, Mr Mumbi is today repeating the very same words that were used against his former boss.
Simply put, individuals such as Mr Mpombo and Mr Mumbi are themselves a danger to this nation. They are not helping our people to make informed decisions because of flip-flopping on many issues. Are these the people we want as our leaders? God forbid!
This country is better of without such characters on the political playing field.
Tell them Siulapwa….this is very informative….we need these kind of articles… they all dogs after bones….. well written and analysed…..
Comparing Mpombo to Mumbi is a tard too trivial. Mumbi has made allegations and challenged Sata a PF opposition President, Mpombo has made allegations against a sitting president who is answerable to the Zambian people,he uses tax payers’ money,any decision he makes has a huge impact on the welfare of Zambians.Mpombo challenged the president on a number of serious issues because he is president of Zambia who swore to uphold and defend the constitution
When the wind of change has come no one can stop it all always rush to hide. Even us who are Sudan,we are able to see and God willing we are coming to vote.
@Smoothcriminal
Meaning what….. everybody can just stand up start talking… why don they talk while they are in office….. when they get fired, then they start screaming like babies…..foolish of you to think in that way… I thought of you as a much more mature person…guess I was wrong…
MuMBI do WHAT EVER YOU WANT,SAY WHAT EVER ABOUT SATA ,BUT IN THE END HE HAS MY VOTE AND MY FAMILIES VOTES.PERIOD!
Well Done LT …. WELL DONE my hat off to you ..this is what I call news neither white or black just grey strait news .
In this article you have not taken sides as to PF or MMD , you just became a strait shooter , told it as it is … And my GOD ARE YOU EVER SO CORRECT , about theses two flip floppers , in fact Zambian politics has been like this since 1991 .. the truth of the mater is
The names of the parties may have changed but the people running the show are all rye same .. Even if PF sata came to power .. Who is Sata really .. Well Sata Was MMD FOR MANY many years …. ALAS BUT WAIT. Sata was also UNIP for many many years before being MMD so really what is new hear …….NOTHING .
same goes for RB these are all Ancient Relics .. Nothing new about them .Zambia we are in trouble.
Mumbi has been so honest with Zambians and told us the truth about the big serpent and his tricks to woo Zambians and later devour them..
The One
Meaning that no one can talk about the evils and the wrongs going on if they are still part of the system.Its not rocket science,Mpombo claims to have resigned because he was being forcewd to play a part on something that he didnt agree with,so the wise thing for him to do is to resign.Mind you he wasnt fired.He did the best thing by resigning.He couldnt talk when he was still part of the system for obvious reasons,as for Mumbi he’s made all the claims and allegations against Sata,but who is Sata answerable to! his party memebrs not the Zambians who pay tax.Hope you get my point now
Good article, but Siulapwa has deliberately chosen to ommit the fact that George Mpombo resigned due to the reasons he has come to reveal now, whereas Mumbi was simply fired by PF. The comparison between the two is misplaced.
Edward Mumbi is more of a danger than Mpombo who has challenged RB on behalf of all Zambians, whose resources he is abusing. Rewrite your article and do not ommit pertinent issues.
Mumbi and Satan were one at one time. If you are doubting him then you are not sure what you looking for. Only those who are frustrated will vote for Satan. Know that there is only one president at any given time. GOD appoints and can never appoint a SNAKE vicious one for that matter. Sata can do better under someone, not him at the helm. Oh no. we cant be that serious. We will have no elections for the next ten years. We cant accept that.
RB God given and be blessed. You will still lead according to prophecy. Take care of your civil servants, farmers and rural population
if you want to know how the hippo lives ask the crocodile sondashi once said. edward mumbi knows sata too well more than anyone else.
#2 Smoothcriminal. Sata is a public opposition figure – thus he is answerable to the populace as well. That is where we missed it with Chiluba, he was nicely packaged and not to be opened till after the 1991 elections. And KK was made to be answerable because he was in Govt. Look what we have now. Let’s learn from mature democracies which do not spare politicians simply because they are in opposition or in Govt! Also a bit of our own past 20 years history can teach us a thing or two….
Can someone tell me whether or not the PF has ever had its books audited? One notes that UPND certainly makes this claim on their website as a comfort to donors.
HOW ELSE CAN SATA AFFORD 100K CARS?….HE STOLE ALL THE FUNDS FOR HIMSELF THE P.F PARTY….THERE ARE NO CARD CARRYING MEMBERS SO SATA CLAIMED THE LOT AS THE ONLY OFFICIAL MEMBER OF SATA PARTY P.F.
THIEVING CLOWNS WHO HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
DON’T LET THE CLOWNS GET CONTROL OF ZAMBIA
WHAT WE SHOULD NOT FOGET IS THAT MUMBI ACCUSED SATA OF BUYING CARS FOR FRANK BWALY. ACCORDING SATA WAS INVESTIGATED AND “PROVED INOCENT”. ON THE OTHER HAND MPOMBO ACCUSED RB AND FAMILY OF CORRUPTION IN THE ARMS DEAL BUT THIS CASE HAS NEVER BEEN INVESTIGATED AND MAY NEVER BE INVESTIGATED UNTIL GOD KNOWS. SO WHO DO WE BELIEVE?????
Edward mumbi is a failed lawyer who must repent publicly for abusing other people’s resources. Job seeking through Vuvuzela blowing is useless, satanic and barbaric.
Eddie your sins will find you out………..wake up and stop bootlicking. It seems every generation brings it’s own vuvuzela. KK had kamalondo, FTJ had chawinga, LPM had Mulongoti and not RB has Eddie, Dora, Lufwekelo, Chifire and Ronnie. learn to protect your integrity….Do not be like foolish galatians.
This country needs serious men and women of candor and vigor to drive this nation forward. Our country needs to break from the shuckles of the past that have held this country captive for such a long period. our country needs leaders with a big heart who can accommodate people from all walks of life irrespective of gender, tribe, colour or indeed ethinicity. Currently there is too much hatred and animosity among the leaders and the nation at large. This hatred has prevented politicians and members of the public from addressing real issues that affect our lives. Politicians are embroiled in personality attacks rather than a focus on the basic issues of economics and development of our poor nation. We have directed our energies on personalities and as such this nation continues to suffer.
This article is finishing Sata and not Mumbi. Read between the lines and you will understand the intentions of Siulapwa. It depicts Sata as a man with no real agenda for the nation. Which true anywhere.
Mumbi, Mpombo, Chimumbwa, Mulongoti, Chitala are all the same.
Brilliantly put No. 17 Shi Mwape.
Mumbi, cifire etc are typical examples of people sinking so low just to get alms from those in power. The sad dynamics of politics of poverty obtaining in our country….
WHAT IS THIS ARTICLE TALKING ABOUT?
#21 the author is advocating for a one-party state
@ Cellphone Banda
Foolish…. you people must stay away from blog…
Am proud my father is not a politician. i would have found it more difficult to trust him. How do these guys manage their families (Mumbi)?
Excuse me!!!!!!!!! am i missing something here, who is Edward Mumbi to deserve a full article? Am trying extremely hard to decipher what the author’s thought process or intentions were to waste a big part of a day to come up with this tosh about a nobody. The author came up with nothing new that we dont know about this vile little man, we already knew he was at one time a PF SG and we knew he was fired and later voluteered himself to be a mahara vuvunzela for Nyama Soya and …………………………what else? NOTHING else. Please Mr Siulapwa give us a break, you not that smart to be churning out articles at the rate you doing. I hope LT aint rewarding you in any way.
It is the shallowness and chronic deficiency of intellectual substance characterizing wannabe Zambian “intellectuals” like Daimone Siulapwa and one Kyambalesa that I find very insulting and stinking. Whether one likes Mpombo or not, it is a foregone conclusion that the bloke has bullocks made of steel, a virtue lacking in most Zambians today, “ba muselela kwatalala mwanya imwe!”. His character (and I’m not contending he is without any faults) shouldn’t be debased or degraded by insensitive and offensive analogies to the likes of spineless jackals like Edward Mumbi. Next time Siulapwa has nothing to compare or say, I would suggest “shutting the f.u.ck up as a better option :o
It is the thin black lipped man at it again! Again and again never trust a man with thin black lips the fumes from the polish which was injested during bootlicking has damaged his brain cells.
Mumbi,the greatest Juda scariot who will end up like Judas himself.
@ smooth criminal, your argument lacks substance.I am very suprised that you even ask questions as to who Sata is answerable to? Sata is answerable to all of us Zambians.mind you he wants to be President.If you aspire to stand for the highest office-The President ,you should be answerable to would-be voters.we as citizens are entitled to know the character it be private or otherwise of the person who parades himself as candidate.It’s a height of folly to think the way you are thinking.In short you are implying we should not question Sata’s deeds because he is not answerable to us tax payers-what kind of logic is that? If you come into public life be ready to be questioned and defend your position period.does that make some sense?
And here, once again, a recycled sorry excuse for a journalist resurfaces after spewing his trash at ZWD. He really believes he can analyse issues. The one article that exemplified stupidity was the one where he used the number of international flights into Lusaka as a means to highlight some equally stupid theory of investors! This guy is a clown.
Smooth criminal sure but he will pay for his sins
Everybody has a role to play in this world. Mumbi is playing his role very well and this is why the author wants him silenced. What kind of country is this were when you feel the heat, you want to silence people? Shame!
I think looking at two senarios Mr Mpombo resigned for himself because he wanted to defend his diginity but Mumbi was just fired. So the two are ancoparable. Mumbi we can say it was out of personal frastrations that led him to start atacking Mr Sata. Anyway we are no longer children so we understand the two senarios. but we shall not reverse our minds its time for the MMD and RB to go. me, all my work mates and all my entire clan shall vote for sata anyway.
The devil you know is better than the engel you don’t know! Viva RB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nipa Nkoloko chabe!!!!!!!! Viva MMD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ba mumbi, please go for a break. Mwakumba over, Mwachita over. Tinveleko benango , we want to listern to somebody.
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