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
Do these mother bodies always handover suspects to the police / their lawyers? The answer is a BIG NO. The so called Church Mother bodies should stop this hypocrisy and stop involving themselves in security issues. Everyone knows that security laws were broken and besides that, before we even go to that case Mundubile had already committed Treason for the whole world to see by declaring himself a winner of the elections. That was not a mistake! It was a strategic call for his gangs and mafias to come out and cause havoc. Had the security agencies not clamped down immediately it would have been too late as his mafias where going to take over all the polling counting centres and changed the results. The so called Church mother bodies were already paid and in the NRPUP camp. It’s insane to think anyone would even start thinking of allowing a petition?? On what basis? The couldn’t petition in advance because they didn’t have the evidence. The closure of judicial institutions across the country was caused by the same characters who still wanted the last opportunity to cause to inflict deadly chaos on governing institutions. If the Church mother bodies so claim that they were facilitating the delivery of the two accused. Let them go anf bring back to justice Binwell Mpundu, Emmanuel Mwamba and JJ Banda. These church mother bodies are playing double standards and think that people don’t see through their game plan. Maybe it’s time the government changed legislation and revert Zambia to what it was before it was declared a Christian Nation. The issues here are very strait forward and theirs no need for the state to bend over. A suspected criminal should face the charges in a criminal court their is nothing to negotiate or reconcile with law breakers. Zambians and opposition parties should stop the nonsense of talking of reconciliation when people deliberatly commit crimes.
I think you have misunderstood the article. They institutions were actually explaining that they can not protect , shield or mediate on behalf of the persons involved.
In the matter at hand , the natural course of Justice needs to be undertaken, which meant simple they played an advisory role of smoothly handing over the gentlemen to the authorities. The understand that we are a sovereign state and are governed by laws which all citizens are supposed to be ruled by.
We need to be careful to read the fine print and interpret issues accurately. As for those blaming these noble institutions you simple have not considered onr comprehended that the State Institutions are above partisan politics regardless of who is in power.
In a matter such as this one it clearly needs to be dealt with carefully through the same institutions we all have allowed to govern us. It is imperative that we trust our institutions. The persons in question have acknowledged this and understand this. All the needed was soft landing which the institutions above and the UN have provided and should be commended.
There are certain land marks we dare not interfer with and carelessly destroy in the name of politics. These institutions should be above partisan politics and allowed to be a voice of reason to ensure humane reactions is encouraged among our politicians who can go beyond bearable limits.