CHURCH MOTHER BODIES DENY HANDING OVER BRIAN MUNDUBILE AND MAKEBI ZULU TO POLICE.
By Jessie Kalambo
The Eight Church Mother Bodies have denied handing over Tonse Pamodzi Alliance leaders Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu to police, affirming that the two opposition leaders were instead handed over to their lawyers.
Speaking on behalf of the eight bodies, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Executive Director Reverend Allan Kasungami says the Church only acted as a neutral third party to facilitate the safe, orderly and dignified departure of the two leaders from the United Nations premises. He says the Church was approached by the United Nations Special Envoy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the UN clarified that its premises could not be used as a place of refuge or diplomatic asylum.
Reverend Kasungami explained that following consultations, both Government and the opposition leaders agreed that the Church Mother Bodies should act as the trusted third party. He says contrary to what has been circulating on social media, the Church did not hand over the two to police but formally handed them over to their legal representatives to ensure any subsequent engagement with law enforcement authorities would take place in the presence of and with access to their lawyers.
The Church further stated that both Mr Mundubile and Mr Zulu were aware of the matters raised by the State and had expressed willingness to face any lawful processes, provided their rights and due process were respected.
Reverend Kasungami also clarified that the Church’s involvement was not meant to negotiate a political settlement between President Hakainde Hichilema’s Government and the opposition, adding that the Church was now considering a broader national healing and reconciliation process to help Zambians deal with political divisions and promote national unity.
Among the Mother Bodies in questions are, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), Independent Churches of Zambia (ICZ).
Others are Apostolic Council of Churches in Zambia (ACCZ), Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), Seventh day Adventist Church (SDA) and the New Apostolic Church.
Details in the following report