"Childish" Mumba disappoints PF

The Patriotic Front (PF) is concerned about the desperate behaviour exhibited by MMD leader Pastor Nevers Mumba, whose decision to storm State House in the company of well-known thugs and violent gangsters like Scorpion Kadobi is aimed at instigating violence and is a deliberate attempt to undermine, harrass and bring the Office of the President into disrepute. These schemes by Pastor Mumba are cheap and desperate schemes under the guise of dialogue. If Pastor Mumba's visit to State House was in good faith, he would have silently sought for an appointment using civil channels without dragging the media along and accompanied by thugs. Mr. Mumba was looking for cheap publicity as a way of inciting people against a duly elected President. We in the PF would like to know if this is the "punch-for-punch" politics Pastor Mumba has been talking about. We want Pastor Mumba to tell the nation if this is the pattern of behaviour he wants to use to resolve issues - The pattern of mobilising thugs against a Head of State. Since yesterday when this incident happened, we have received a lot of messages from well-meaning MMD members, who are embarrassed by the conduct of their leader. Many of them are regretting the day former president Rupiah Banda handed pastor Mumba the party leadership. But then we also, in some way, sympathise with Pastor Mumba, because he is a troubled man. He has found himself alienated from his own party that he is claiming to be leading. He has just realised that the MMD has been transferred to Mr. Hakainde Hichilema by his own former president Mr. Rupiah Banda, who handpicked him. This is a frustrating situation for Pastor Mumba, but we urge him to be strong and redirect his battles to those who have pulled the carpet from beneath his feet, and not to PF. President Sata or PF has nothing to do with the schemes that are going on between MMD and UPND. PF is in government and the focus right now is to deliver to the Zambian people. That is why we strongly urge Pastor Mumba to stop this disruptive behaviour and allow government to do its work while he sorts out his problems with Mr. Banda and Mr. Hichilema. Mr. Wynter M. Kabimba, ODS Secretary General Patriotic Front (PF)