Lusaka ~ Thursday, 26 January 2023
By Brightwell Chabusha
Leader of the Patriotic for Economic Progress (PeP) Sean Tembo has said he does not share the view that Mr Anthony’s Bwalya’s reassignment was based on tribal lines.
Mr Tembo questioned those peddling the same narrative if it will not be embarrassing to them if Mr Bwalya’s replacement is a fellow Bemba.
He said in a statement issued to the press today that it is not important as to whether Mr Bwalys’s reassignment is a demotion or promotion.
“But on this matter of the re-assignment of Mr. Anthony Bwalya, l am sorry to say l do not share the popular opinions currently being peddled around. The most popular opinion on the matter is that Mr. Anthony Bwalya was used by President Hakainde Hichilema to create a semblance of a regionally balanced State House team, and that just like the former Presidential Photographer; Chellah Tukuya, he will be replaced by someone from one of the Zambezi Provinces,” he said.
“I do not share this popular opinion for the simple reason that Mr. Anthony Bwalya’s replacement has not yet been announced and it is wrong to speculate. What if he is replaced by another Bemba or an Easterner? Will it not be embarrassing to those who were prematurely peddling this line of thought?”
The opposition leader said the most important question to be considered is whether the former President Spokesperson was good at his job or not.
“But perhaps the more pertinent question is whether Mr. Anthony Bwalya was good at his job? I think not. Just like the majority of President Hakainde Hichilema’s appointments, it was based on a perceived debt that he acquired from individuals who contributed to his struggles during the time that he was in opposition,” he said.
“In my view, this is a misconception because the team you need to do politics while you are in opposition may not necessarily be suitable for you to run a government when you ascend to power.”