Friday, March 29, 2024

Mpombo thanks Scott for pardon, says jail was hair-raising experience

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 George Mpombo
George Mpombo

Former Defence Minister George Mpombo has thanked Acting President Dr Guy Scott for the Christmas Day presidential pardon which saw him walk to freedom.

Dr Mpombo who was serving a nine month prison term for forgery and uttering of false documents was released alongside Mufumbwe MP Steven Masumba on presidential pardon.

In an interview, Dr Mpombo said the three months he spent in prison was a hair-raising experience due to the poor standards of prisons in Zambia.

‘It is great to be out of the dungeon, you know Zambian prisons just like everywhere else operate under very lugubrious conditions,’ Dr Mpombo said.
He said there is a lot of work that needs to be done to bring Zambian prisons to standards that could be termed acceptable.

[pullquote]“It is great to be out of the dungeon, you know Zambian prisons just like everywhere else operate under very lugubrious conditions”[/pullquote]

Dr Mpombo continued, ‘otherwise it has been a hair raising experience and I salute the officers that are manning these prisons, they are doing their best under very difficult situation, they operate under very poor conditions of service, most of them their offices have no furniture with dim promotion prospects, it is hell of an environment for them.’

He said government must critically look at the situation in prisons and ensure that prisoners and prison staff are well taken care of.

And asked about his political future, Dr Mpombo who is also President of the opposition People’s Democratic Party said he will consult with his family before deciding his next political move.

He also rubbished sentiments that he has been released in order to help with the PF presidential campaigns in rural Copperbelt where UPND President Hakainde Hichilema seems to have penetrated.

Dr Mpombo said he has never held any meeting with any PF official in prison or upon his release saying such sentiments should be ignored.

84 COMMENTS

    • We bet Dr Mpombo was tired of taking it from the bottom. These savage prisons have a really bad environment and bad food so the only entertaining there is a guys shiny black bottom.We bet he was hammered line no mans business after surrendering his defense tactics. Imagine a life with no women and the only entertaining thing there is the guy on guy massage. Evans Mfula at Evaduco reporting live from kamfinca

    • after you have campaigned. Team EL is in the field we have no time to waste with renowned losers like UPND.

      VIVA EL …

    • ‘It is great to be out of the dungeon, you know Zambian prisons just like everywhere else operate under very LUGUBRIOUS conditions,’ Dr Mpombo said.
      Wow, I missed those bombastic words from this man. Welcome back mwisho.

    • I said it that the “thank you” will have big grammar

      Oh dear me, lugubrious!

      Merry christmas bwana mpompo.

      I can only say it will be lugubrious to all haters of Eddy come 20th jan2015

    • THE FALACY OF ELECTORAL PROMISES: AN INFORMED PERSPECTIVE BY MWAMBA PENI
      Government is not a kantemba wherein it’s operations are determined by the whims and capriciousness of the powers that be. Government has systems and procedures that transcends political parties and it’s leadership. In order to foster socioeconomic development, Government depends on;

      1. Development plans (which is a 5 years circle)
      2. Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which runs for three years.
      3. The annual budget.

      The 6th National development plan, which was recently revised to include certain aspects from the PF manifesto, runs up to 2016. The MTEF, from which the annual budget is derived, runs up to 2016 as well. So the point is, there is nothing significant a new political party can do between…

    • Remember Mr Mpombo you’re out at our mercy and on condition that you produce at least 3 new words every week or you go back to prison. Keep cramming that dictionary George.

    • MMEMBE ADMITS EDGAR WILL WIN
      In its Editorial on Boxing Day, The Post has admitted that the PF President Edgar Lungu is likely to win the forthcoming elections.
      “This is what the Zambian people should brace themselves. The chances of Edgar winning are high not because of his own popularity. The reality is those who voted for Michael and the Patriotic Front are not yet fully demobilised. They are still likely to vote for the Patriotic Front Candidate”
      The Editorial also cautions against the false and premature excitement that usually grip the UPND Camp everytime they enjoy a small bubble of support.
      “So the UPND and those who support them should not start celebrating. The Patriotic Front is weakened but not out of the race. Of course a lot of work need to be done by Edgar and his…

    • Excuse me please ladies and gentlemen. Am I missing something here? What is this euphoria of the presidential pardon of a convicted inmate all about? This is a guy who hasn’t done half the time for pocketing your brother’s, sister’s, mother’s, father’s uncle’s auntie’s nephew’s, nieces, cousin’s and friend’s hard earned tax money. This man was charged with public responsibility to look after our coffers and safeguard our resources yet you are applauding him like some kind of a hero whilst you pour scorn on HH. This is Xmas time. It’s about a wonderful little baby boy born in a stable and who grew up to be Jesus the fisher of men. His story tells us of how he was given up for crucification even after he was found without blemish and many a villains were let free and he paid the…

    • I would not condemn the people who are moving from other parties to join rival parties. That’s is very normal in a non tribalistic electoral setting of civilised nations. I have been long labour (party) in the united kingdom but I have now veered to the Tories (conservertives) The change is based only on policies and not on the appeal of the two main players David & Eddie and I am straighter than straight. The Tories have come up with policies that help me and my family as a hard working citizens such as access to 75% of my pension when I turn 55 which is a long way yet. They Tories are making sure that it pays to be in work than on benefits. The money realised from these macro management policies is being used to strengthen the NHS ( National Health Service) UK overtook France to…

    • The UK has just overtaken France as the 5th largest economy of the world and I am glad I have contributed to this great achievement and rest assured my motherland Zambia has benefited too. I just have to look at those Western Union receipts to add up the money I have ploughed into my beloved country – Zambia. This election doesn’t only affect the people at home. It affects us all – yes even you in the diaspora. HH means new constitution, new constitution means dual citizenship which means real empowerment and job creation which equates to vibrant economy and eventual eradication of hunger. Ladies & Gentlemen! I urge you yo make an informed decision and use your vote carefully by voting for Mr HH. He is humble, may be too humble, successful, bright, young, hardworking – Haisa Haisa!

    • And thank people like Ndobo, who never gave up on their presido.
      Scott is naturally good man, he could have swapped Lungu for Mpombo if he wanted anytime.

    • @ One time. It is true that government plans are there but the onus of implementing them rests on the government in power. Explain why there was very little progress on the ZESCO Power Rehabilitation projects under the MMD’s 20 years despite the country crippling power shortages but most of these projects have been completed in 3 years of PF’s rule. The World Bank censured a French company because it was corruptly awarded the power rehabilitation project by the MMD government. The policy change from UNIP’s socialism by the MMD to private enterprise revived the mining industry. ZR is up and running because the PF abrogated the concession agreement. The implementation of the windfall tax could affect the economy. In short it DOES matter which party is in Government.

    • A wise man once said, “you can judge a country by the way it treats its prisoners”. Prison is no joke and it is a pity regardless of political affiliation the prison conditions are yet to be greatly improved, however no other government in Zambia’s history has done so much to try and improve prison conditions so for that the PF govt must be commended however alot more must and will be done under Edgar C. Lungu.

      ****VIVA EDGAR LUNGU 2015****

    • Thats OK. It pays to be good to others, they will be good to you. Keep on suing people and we will keep on doing what is good in the public eye. Mpompo, we need your support. Let them talk. Join the winning team.

    • WELCOME BACK TO LIFE, SIR. I PARTICULARLY MISSED YOUR DICTIONARY JUST LIKE ANY ENGLISH-LOVING SPEAKER. YOUR ABSENCE TRULY CREATED A LANGUAGE VACUUM. HOWEVER, MAYBE YOUR IMPRISONMENT WAS FOR A PURPOSE. NOW THAT EVEN ‘IMPORTANT’ POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL PEOPLE ARE BEING JAILED THIS WILL HELP IN IMPROVING PRISON CONDITIONS IN ZAMBIA. IT WAS UNHEARD OF FOR POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY POWERFUL PEOPLE IN ZAMBIA TO BE IMPRISONED IN THE KK, CHILUBA, MWANAWASA AND RB REGIMES. THANKS GOD THING HAVE CHANGED AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE PRISON LAWS CHANGES TO ESTABLISH HABITABLE PRISONS IN ZAMBIA AS LAWS WILL BE MADE FOR EVERYONE. THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT AFTER THE LOSS OF OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT, MICHAEL C SATA.

    • HE HAS A DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO CHOOSE, HASN’T HE BROTHER UPND? ARE YOU GONNA CONDEMN HIM IF HE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT GODFREY MIYANDA OR OTHER?

  1. Lugubrious, ….eish I didn’t there was such a word. Indeed Ba Mpombo is back, let me go and load a dictionary App on my phone.

    • I bet Dr Mpombo was tired of taking it from the bottom. These savage prisons have a really bad environment and bad food so the only entertaining there is a guys shiny black bottom.We bet he was hammered like no mans business after surrendering his defense tactics. Imagine a life with no women and the only entertaining thing there is the guy on guy massage. Evans Mfula at Evaduco reporting live from Lusaka

  2. Welcome back mr Muponbo. Would you kindly use your big words to explain to the UPND cardres that HH can not win in Luapula, northern,Muchinga, eastern,Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces. HH and UPND are tribalists and will never rule Zambia.

    • Edigar Lungu cant reduce himself to the level of HH a cadre. Edigar has been president of Zambia before but your HH has ever been a cadre. So PF will give you a PF cadre to debate with a cadre HH.

    • Truth Hates… Its good you know that Edgar Lungu has played a part in the misery the country has gone through in the past three years under PF leadership.

    • Sata was a cadre. That’s why the economy is in shambles. Mwanawasa was never a cadre, didn’t allow cadrerism and the economy grew. HH is not a cadre but the president of a big political party.

    • Yes, that’s true democracy and Zambia is maturing in democracy. Could ZNBC the national media organisation please organise one for the voters to make a choice. I recall one of its kind in the time of Sata(RIP), Gwendoline Konie(RIP) et al presidential race. Some sort of informed choice.

    • Clever people will not fight in public. They will hit you when you are not expecting. EL will not come to your dirty debates. Debate among yourselves. In fact the debate will come after you lose and it will be in your own party to find out why you continue to lose. Iam sure it will be whether to keep HH or to consider him a liability. We need no debates because victory is ours, PF 2015 and beyond.

    • FOR WHAT YOUNG MAN. THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE ON DEBATES. PF AND EL ARE ALREADY IN FULL SWING DOING WHAT THEY ARE GOOD AT- DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ALLOVER THE COUNTRY. WHATEVER EL SHOULD SAY DURING DEBATE IS ALREADY THERE WHILE HH WILL JUST BE SPECULATING ON THINGS HE HAS NO IDEA ABOUT. WE AIN’T GAT NO TIME TO PLAY.

  3. In Zambia elections are based on the tribe of leaders of political parties rather than on the political party manifesto. A party should be voted into government because of its manifesto and should be retained in power if it keeps most of the promises contained in its manifesto. A manifesto is a written statement that describes the policies, goals and opinions of a person or group or in this case a party. The UNIP manifesto had free education for all which it failed to maintain in its later years of its rule. A leader’s vision should be based on the party’s manifesto because leaders come and go but parties are supposed to remain in perpetuity like the Democratic and Republican parties in the USA.

    • It’s true @ senior engineer. It’s so irritating!
      Zambians let’s vote wisely; only HH makes sense and lets vote for him. Edgar can’t take this country anywhere and we know it deep down our hearts.

    • @5 YES YOU ARE VERY RIGHT AND THAT’S WHY ZAMBIANS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HH. BECAUSE THAT IDEA OF VOTING FOR A TRIBE WILL OFFICIALLY BE DATE-STAMPED AS IS EVIDENCED BY THIS REGIONAL PARTY.

  4. So there is absolutely nothing wrong if Lungu says he will continue with the vision of Sata whose vision was based on the PF manifesto. The UPND manifesto talks of better roads and infrastructure. Is this different from what the PF has done in its 3 years in power other than the fact that the PF is perceived as a Bemba party? Has the Bemba speaking faction in PF insisted on a Bemba speaking leader succeeding Sata as was the case with UPND when Mazoka died?
    Although it is mere speculation perhaps the UPND would have fared better if Sakwiba had not been prevented from succeeding Mazoka by being a non Tonga. Scott was not able to succeed Sata because of the infamous presidential clause.

    • We went past tribal drivel like 7 years ago. And there you are hanging on to the relics of ignorance. What’s the matter with some of you?

    • UPND manifesto talks of better roads and infrastructure. Is this different from what the PF has done?

      YES!Well planned with no corruption.Equal distribution of infrastructure development in all 10 provinces.

      Why should all the wealth from North Western province be spent in Muchinga?

      Why should one province have 2 Universities while non being built in other provinces?

  5. Ok Dr Mpombo welcome sir. We missed you sir. Good you have come when the political atmosphere is heated. To give you some hints, Edigar Lungu is president of Zambia on 20 January 2015. So please come and vote for EL.

    Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.

    • Mambala I have told you to tell us why so that we can tell him to his face if you fear him. Or are you fearing the ZWD that it will bewitch you if you told us? Please speak it out Mambala iwe.

    • This question has been ignored for long time, can some who was with HH at UNZA tell us why he was suspended. Otherwise, we will vote for another fraud into state house like Chiluba if this question is not answered.

    • @8 Mwine Munzi, we are not interested in character assassination during campaigns. It’s cheap and rubbish. Even calling Edgar as Vodkar is equally cheap and rubbish. In any case, there is no Zambian politician who is squeaky clean. So what if he Was suspended from UNZA, didn’t he finally graduate? Is he not a graduate? Show me in the constitution of Zambia where it says a person is barred from standing for a president of Zambia if he takes Vodkar, or if he was suspended from UNZA many years ago? If you have nothing to contribute to an intelligent debate, please shut up, we are busy intelligently weighing which candidate to vote for.

  6. From acting president to prison and from prison to… ? Nice he tasted the bitter pills. Prison is not a place to enjoy

  7. Congratulations, many others have done and are doing the same thing you did but have never seen the inside of a court or prison. That’s no excuse of course. Hope you and Masumba have learnt lessons from this experience.

  8. The whole pardon of the two is smelling with bad smell. PF now needs Masumba and Mpombo for the campaigns. PF knows in NW and Central Ps competition is tough. PF is feeling the heat and thus this move. From humanitarian point of view is fine but Masumba does not deserve it. He benefited so much from stolen qualifications.

  9. Its unchristian to pardon criminals on vested interests whilehundreds of thouasnds of the poorest of the poor prisoners without political or tribal inclinations are serving their jail sentences till they finish.Nothing is there to celebrate not until that poorest of the poor prisoner who remained in jail is realised. Prisons & laws were not meant the poor. We want justice & equality before the law to prevail in Zambia.Laws must be proactive perpetually.May God help HH to liberate Zambia from injustices & social economic evils under that Outgoing Lairs Party PF in 20 days time.

  10. Good morning Sports lovers across the 10 provinces of Zambia.
    Coming from peaceful Christmas Celebrations I Want to thank the Acting President His Honour, Dr. GUY LINDSAY SCOTT, for pardoning my former workmate and my former Deputy Minister Steven Masumba, and also former Zambian High Commissioner to Nigerian sir George Mpombo.
    This is a good Christmas present to well meaning Citizens and nationals.
    WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE?

    2015 vote PF(Edgar)

    I thank you

    • @Katondo boys: We know this your identity – Emmanuel Mwamba!!
      Hope your campaigns for EL are going well BUT you will be disappointed come Jan 21.

      VOTE HH2015 for Zambia United!!

  11. I find it difficult to understand Mpombo because he was once a minister, he would have worked hard to improve conditions in the prison than letting them be in lugubrious state. Suffice to say that you are a lugubrious person. As a minister you managed to buy a lot of luxurious items.
    Welcome to our lugubrious world

  12. This is definitely a political decision. Guy(as Mmembe calls him) should have also pardoned one General Kanene who is serving time for consensual sex between adults (that bitch he was hammering is not a minor by any stretch of the imagination).

  13. @8 Mwine Munzi, we are not interested in character assassination during campaigns. It’s cheap and rubbish. Even calling Edgar as Vodkar is equally cheap and rubbish. In any case, there is no Zambian politician who is squeaky clean. So what if he Was suspended from UNZA, didn’t he finally graduate? Is he not a graduate? Show me in the constitution of Zambia where it says a person is barred from standing for a president of Zambia if he takes Vodkar, or if he was suspended from UNZA many years ago? If you have nothing to contribute to an intelligent debate, please shut up, we are busy intelligently weighing which candidate to vote for.

  14. Why pardon someone who’s 3 more months in prison? There are many other people in there that deserved mercy than these 2 politicians.

    • Checha

      LUGUBRIOUS
      …mournful,gloomy,sad,unhappy,doleful,glum,melancholy,woeful,
      miserable,woebegone,forlorn,somber,solemn,morose,dour,cheerless,
      dismal…..AND I THINK THATS THE RIGHT WORD TO DESCRIBE UPND SUPPORTERS …

      THANK YOU SIR MPOMBO,,,,UPND IS A LUGUBRIOUS PARTY.

      2015 VOTE PF(EDGAR)

      I THANK YOU

  15. Lugubrious! I am done for LT now hahahahahahahaha. Dr. Mpombo has been missed. He adds colour to the political and literary scene. Open your dictionaries, because we are about to be bombarded with phraseology of the extraordinary and exemplary petigree.

  16. UPND supoters learn to be real. why is HH’s adverts not in Tonga but using Icibemba? when are we seeing Tonga names among blogers? Lungu is not imposed like HH but came from real voters

    • Mulyokela, I thought one is at liberty to use a language that they deem fit. You can even use Swahili if you think it will resonate with the electorate. This is one Zambia, one nation. If you have cared to look around, you will see that two languages have come out very prominently in this country, i.e, Nyanja and Bemba. The music industry realized this a long time ago. So what is peculiar with these adverts, have the electorate complained? Ironically, you are asking your stupid question using English and not Lozi.

    • EL is just learning to speak nsenga in preparation for the Eastern Province campaigns, a bit rough for him as those people can be tribal. He’s going to tread sensitive ground with the farmer’s late payments, he needs the likes of RB to win the hearts of the easterners, Mhabi is a non entity in the east. HH has been there before he knows the approach.

  17. Indeed Dr. Mpombo [or is it pombo] does not deserve a pardon. He has just done one third of his time in the dungeon. There are a lot of people rotting in there, some of whom have still not been tried, others wrongfully imprisoned who deserve pardons. And how did this guy get a Doctorate, was this just conferred on him or it was in recognition of the bombastic words?

  18. Maureen Mwanawasa meets Fred Mmembe.
    Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa on Friday 26th December 2014, took time to meet Post Editor Fred Mmembe. Maureen who arrived at the Post premises at 15:30 stayed on until 17:15hrs.
    Maureen is suspected to have gone to plead for political space for the UPND and Hakainde Hichilema.
    Maureen was driving a Toyota Hilux ALZ 1096

    2015 VOTE PF(EDGAR)

    I THANK YOU

  19. Ba Emmanuel Mwamba (Katondo boys).
    Give us a break, Zambians know you too well for anything good to come out of you. Sata fired you.

  20. s
    GEORGE MPOMBO SPEAKS OUT ON HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON

    Countrymen and women, I gladly receive all of you to my obsequious or rather unostentatious hacienda.

    I’m exhilarated and clenched with euphoria as I position on this rostrum before you. As the perfectly au courant among you will attest, I’m no longer an internee as I was discharged from the slammer under presidential pardon on Christmas Day.

    But grant me the liberty to first bestow encomiums on my deity in the ocean of emptiness.

    I withal extend or rather give an ineffable gratitude to acting president Dr Guy Scott for exercising his powers of prerogative of mercy in favour of myself and 9 other fellow prisoners.

    Guy is indeed an epitome of a great leader and his gesture is not only gotten high on betwixt me and…

  21. WARNING TO LUNGU & HH

    (1) Guy Scott’s release of Mpombo and Masumba is a set to make the world believe that Zambia embraces convicted criminals.

    (2) Scott’s original plan to install Sampa or Kaseba was designed to beef up the protection of Mmembe & Nchito from paying back the K14 Billion dubiously obtained from DBZ – and also give Mahtan more teeth to grab industries from genuine owners and allow export Zambian money to India.

    (3) Scott’s signing of a Govt instrument to raise retirement age from 55 to 65 is a set-up of an industrial time-bomb that would later explode in face of Lungu or HH.

    (4) the reported transfer of ZAWA to Govt Dept kills the essence of capitalism that the original MMD sought to establish. Scott was part.

    Hence Lungu & HH risk serving for…

  22. Ba Mpombo would not have been imprisoned if he had been using simpler language in court. Unfortunately he opted to use very difficult words from the chambers sis which could only be understood by himself alone! The court judges were at a loss, instead opted to put him behind bars. So ba Mpombo learn to use simple words or just phrasal verbs to express yourself. It is not how many advanced words that one uses determine how educated one is. Lesson learn ba Mpombo!!

  23. UPND is useless starting to its leader up to the supporters! vote for an evil man never! Let him control cows & cattles

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