Kafwaya Challenges Government on Church Relations
….as Vice President Dodges Key Question….
Lusaka, 14 March 2025
Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya confronted Vice President Mutale Nalumango on whether the ruling party intends to reconcile with the clergy ahead of the 2026 elections.
In a bold and direct question, Kafwaya highlighted a series of incidents in which Catholic bishops and priests had allegedly been targeted by the government for speaking out on governance and social justice issues.
“As my honourable colleague from Kwacha just said, 2026 is around the corner. Yona, what is your government and your party, UPND, planning in view of reconciling with the bishop you called Lucifer? With the bishop of this church, this church your police called on, the church priest you summoned for just delivering the homily in Ndola. And finally, another bishop from Eastern Province is being threatened by your government for speaking out for the people. Are you thinking about reconciling with the Catholic Church before the 2026 elections?” Hon. Kafwaya asked.
His question referenced multiple cases where Catholic leaders have been at odds with the UPND administration. Notably, one bishop was publicly referred to as “Lucifer,” a priest was summoned by police after delivering a homily in Ndola, and another bishop from Eastern Province reportedly faced government threats for speaking on behalf of the people.
However, instead of addressing Kafwaya’s concerns head-on, Vice President Nalumango appeared to evade the question, initially claiming she had missed parts of it.
“Mr. Speaker, I may have missed a few words. I don’t know why. I missed a few words of what he was saying, but I hope principally you are referring to a priest being called Lucifer by somebody,” she said.
She then shifted the focus away from the government’s actions, making an ambiguous distinction between personal and official responsibilities.
“To start with, I do understand that sometimes it’s difficult to say this is Nalumango or this is Vice President. It is difficult for you to say, ‘No, no, no, I didn’t talk about the Vice President, I talked about Nalumango.’ There are very few people that are able to separate the office from themselves,” she stated.
Her remarks did little to clarify whether the UPND government acknowledges its antagonistic stance toward the Catholic Church or intends to take steps toward reconciliation before the elections.
Hon. Kafwaya’s question comes amid growing concerns that the ruling party’s confrontational approach toward religious leaders is eroding its public support. The Catholic Church has historically played a critical role in Zambia’s political landscape, advocating for democracy, justice, and social welfare.
With 2026 fast approaching, political analysts warn that continued hostility toward the clergy could alienate a significant portion of the electorate. The Church has been instrumental in shaping public opinion, and its influence could prove decisive in the upcoming elections.
Despite the importance of the issue, the Vice President’s failure to provide a clear answer has left many questioning whether the UPND will attempt to mend its fractured relationship with the Church or continue down a path of political confrontation.
For now, the question remains unanswered, and the tension between the government and the Catholic Church lingers.