Iris responds to President Hichilema’s public rebuke

By BARNABAS ZULU

IRIS Kaingu has bluntly responded to President Hakainde Hichilema attacks against her and has accused him of attempting to bribe her with several appointments so that she could withdraw from contesting the Mwandi parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

On Thursday, President Hichilema publicly rebuked Ms Kaingu for refusing to withdraw from contesting the Mwandi seat, disclosing that he had called her several times to abandon her ambitions but that she refused with contempt.

But yesterday, Ms Kaingu revealed that President Hichilema persuaded her to withdraw from the Mwandi parliamentary race by offering her various opportunities, including a possible nomination to Parliament and a role in the UPND national campaign team.

Speaking during a Facebook Live broadcast, Ms Kaingu maintained that her position had not changed and that she was going to contest the Mwandi seat as an independent and did not want anyone to coerce her to withdraw…not even President Hichilema.

“Mr. President mentioned our phone calls. Mr. President, my answer has not changed. My answer is still no. I would like to tell the nation and the world at large that having a one-sided conversation is not good enough. You should have told the people yesterday what it is you offered me that I said no to,” Ms Kaingu said.

She revealed that President Hichilema had offered to nominate her to Parliament if he was re-elected in the August 13, 2026 general election and also proposed that she would join the UPND national campaign team while awaiting what the head of State described as greater opportunities after the elections.

Ms Kaingu said she rejected both offers, saying her decision was guided by her commitment to the people of Mwandi rather than personal benefit.

Ms Kaingu also disclosed that the President first contacted her father, former Mwandi Member of Parliament and former Education Minister Dr Michael Kaingu, requesting him to persuade her to withdraw from the race.

According to Ms Kaingu, her father declined to intervene, telling the President that she was old enough to make her own decisions and that he should speak to her directly.

She said President Hichilema later called her personally and repeated the proposal, but she maintained her refusal.

“I do not know many people who would have said no to you, even just based on the fact that you are the President of this Republic,” she said.

Ms Kaingu also expressed disappointment that the President had publicly disclosed details of their private conversations, stating that it was incorrect for him to rebuke her publicly over a private conversation.

She explained that they had agreed the discussions would remain confidential and accused the head of State of breaching that understanding by raising the matter during a public rally.

She questioned why President Hichilema had chosen to focus on her candidature instead of addressing the challenges facing the people of Western Province and Mwandi.