Ignore Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda
Vox populi, vox Dei — the voice of the people is the voice of God. Yet, according to Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, it would appear that his voice, rather than that of the people, should be taken as the voice of God.
In his recent statement on the ongoing constitutional reform process, the Archbishop deliberately overlooks a fundamental reality of Zambia’s governance system: that the legitimate representatives of the people are Members of Parliament. By constitutional design, Parliament embodies the will of the people and speaks on their behalf. To dismiss this reality is to dismiss the very democratic framework under which the country operates.
Contrary to the alarmist claims being advanced, there is nothing in Bill 7 that places Zambia in jeopardy. On the contrary, the proposed amendments seek to strengthen governance, improve the constitutional order, and advance the country’s democratic evolution. Far from heralding catastrophe, the Bill is intended to move Zambia forward.
Increasingly, many Zambians are coming to the conclusion that Archbishop Dr. Banda has taken the constitutional reform process as a personal contest. This appears to explain his persistent and solitary inclination to issue dire warnings and messages of impending doom. His apparent hope is that such exaggerated alarm will conjure visions of Armageddon and compel citizens to reject a Bill whose substantive weaknesses he has conspicuously failed to demonstrate.
For this reason, Zambians should treat Archbishop Dr. Banda’s pronouncements with caution. Through his conduct, he has projected himself as an opponent of progress, seemingly driven more by animosity towards President Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn Government than by an objective assessment of the national interest. In this regard, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi would do well to discern the divisive implications of these interventions and to safeguard the Catholic Church’s long-standing, non-partisan posture.
The Catholic Church in Zambia must not be allowed to fracture under the influence of a few individuals pursuing narrow interests while presenting themselves as champions of social justice. The Church’s mission transcends partisan battles and political vendettas.
Ultimately, the Catholic Church in Zambia is far greater than any single cleric, including Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda. It should not be reduced to a bargaining chip in struggles that lie outside its spiritual mandate and pastoral mission.
About the Author
Fr. Frank Bwalya is a Catholic priest who previously served as President of the Association of Local Clergy in the Diocese of Ndola, now the Archdiocese of Ndola. During his tenure, Archbishop Alick Banda was a member of the association as a priest.
Speaking on behalf of his vehicle which is Zambians got from him the frustrated bishop who believed shortcuts.
Zambians have talked about the illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7.
The Church has talked.
The Law Association of Zambia has talked.
The Court has ruled
Hakainde continues on his illegal Path, disregarding all, and resolved that the illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7 becomes law.
Meanwhile he continues keeping the delimitation report secret.
He is behaving like an Ostrich..
That Delimitation Report he has been keeping secret will eventually be made public once his illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7 becomes law.
The 55 additional Parliamentary Seats won’t remain secret forever. The people of Zambia will know what Hakainde has been hiding.
If these seats ,as feared, turn out to be skewed to 3 regions, Hakainde won’t have it easy. He will start a ” War” he won’t win. He will turn Zambia upside down.
The Arch Bishop Dr Alick Banda is absolutely right. Hakainde is treading a very dangerous path.
Hakainde will soon know who a Zambian really is.
We are not fools.
Maybe your last four words sum up who you are and Alick Banda is.
Good job, Frank.