I HAVE LOST TWO CARS TO FUND MAYORAL CAMPAIGN SAYS SIMON MWILA.
Lusaka Independent Mayoral Candidate Simon Mwila has revealed that he lost two of his vehicles after using them as security to obtain loans to finance his campaign.
The 35-year-old lawyer said much of his campaign was funded through personal sacrifice after some individuals who had promised to provide financial support eventually stopped responding to his calls.
Mwila said he was forced to borrow money from a close friend, using his BMW and Mercedes-Benz as collateral, in order to keep his campaign running.
“A lot of the campaign was funded through personal sacrifice. At some point, I had to get Kaloba from a good friend using my BMW and Mercedes-Benz as security so that I could keep the campaign going. Unfortunately, I have since lost both cars,” he said.
He said some people had initially promised to support his campaign financially but later became unavailable.
“There were also people who had promised to come through and support me financially, but as the campaign went on, some stopped picking up my calls. That is life, and I have no bitterness towards anyone. Nobody owes me anything, and perhaps they also had their own struggles and challenges to deal with,” Mwila stated.
Mwila also addressed concerns over his recent silence, saying he is alive and well and has deliberately chosen to take some time away from the public spotlight.
“A number of people have reached out to me over my silence and have been asking whether I am okay. I am very much okay and alive. I have simply decided to remain quiet for a while, watch things unfold and try to find my feet again,” he said.
The former mayoral candidate said he was also encouraged by the number of votes he managed to secure as an independent candidate, claiming that his performance compared favourably with several opposition presidential figures.
Mwila said Brian Mundubile was the only major opposition leader who finished ahead of him in terms of the number of votes.
Looking ahead, Mwila said he is weighing several options about his future, including returning fully to his legal career or remaining active in politics.
“Right now, I am thinking about a number of things. Do I set up my own law firm and concentrate on rebuilding my legal career? Do I continue with politics from the opposition side? Do I work with UPND, a party I have criticised for years, but where I also have many friends who are now MPs and holding various positions?” he stated.
Mwila’s remarks suggest that, despite the financial and personal sacrifices made during the campaign, he is yet to make a final decision on his next political move.
He Writes:
A number of people have reached out to me over my silence and have been asking whether I am okay.
I am very much okay and alive. I have simply decided to remain quiet for a while, watch things unfold and try to find my feet again.
Looking back at the election, I am proud of what I managed to achieve as an Independent Candidate at the age of 35, just an ordinary boy from Matero without any serious financial sponsorship or party machinery behind me.
A lot of the campaign was funded through personal sacrifice. At some point, I had to get Kaloba from a good friend using my BMW and Mercedes Benz as security so that I could keep the campaign going. Unfortunately, I have since lost both cars.
There were also people who had promised to come through and support me financially, but as the campaign went on, some stopped picking up my calls. That is life, and I have no bitterness towards anyone. Nobody owes me anything, and perhaps they also had their own struggles and challenges to deal with.
Despite all that, I still managed to get a very respectable number of votes as an Independent Candidate and performed better than all opposition presidential figures, with Hon. Brian Mundubile being the only major opposition leader who finished ahead of me in terms of numbers.
For someone who went into that election largely on his own, I cannot ignore what that result means.
Right now, I am thinking about a number of things. Do I set up my own law firm and concentrate on rebuilding my legal career? Do I continue with politics from the opposition side? Do I work with UPND, a party I have criticised for years, but where I also have many friends who are now MPs and holding various positions?
These are not small decisions.
And as a Catholic and a Christian, I have decided that before I comment on some of the political happenings in our country, or before I make my next political move, I need to pray, reflect and seek God’s guidance.
I do not want to make decisions out of anger, disappointment, excitement, pressure or convenience. I want whatever decision I make next to be one that I am at peace with before God and with myself.
So for now, I will remain quiet, observe, pray and rebuild.
To everyone who has reached out to check on me, thank you. I genuinely appreciate it. 凉
I am okay. I am alive. I am just taking time to think, pray and find my footing again.
God will guide the next chapter.
