Political Reporter

A well-placed source who claims to be very close to the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, Gladys Hlatshwayo and Gift Ostallos Siziba, has revealed that Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has assured the MDC Alliance through Joseph Kalimbwe that he would continue supporting them as he progresses Zambia’s interests and forges sound working relations with its neighbours.

The MDC Alliance official was responding to reports suggesting that President Hichilema would soon silence Joseph Kalimbwe, whose activities on social media are complicating Zambia’s relations with Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa.

The MDC Alliance official disowned what he termed ‘uninformed rumours’ and declared that President Hichilema had assured him that he would continue  to secretly support the MDC Alliance using Kalimbwe and ‘other means’.

According to the official, Kalimbwe, who is perceived as a trusted son of President Hichilema, would continue to issue statements in support of the MDC Alliance and would intensify these efforts as Zimbabwe heads for the 2023 elections.

On the other hand, President Hichilema would continue to use the tactic of plausible deniability which involves covertly encouraging Kalimbwe to continue along his ‘constructive supportive path’ while overtly disowning him.

According to the MDC Alliance sources, President Hichilema’s statements of denial would not be taken seriously by anyone because everyone knows that Kalimbwe is his Master’s Voice.

Efforts to get a comment from Kalimbwe were futile as he didn’t respond messages sent to him by this publication.