By Given Mutinta
THERE IS UNDECLARED ‘WAR’ AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS FR MWEWA
A Chingola-based Catholic priest, Fr. Augustine Mwewa, has urged Catholics in Zambia to safeguard their voters’ cards in preparation for the upcoming general elections, encouraging them to use their votes as a form of protest against the recent summoning of Archbishop Alick Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
Fr. Mwewa, who serves as the president of the Local Catholic Clergy in Zambia, expressed that the action against the Archbishop represents a hostile move by the UPND administration, which he accused of ‘declaring war’ on Catholics.
He criticized the government’s tactics, which he referred to as ‘mingalato’, aimed at suppressing dissenting voices.
Fr. Mwewa emphasized that Catholics should not succumb to intimidation and lamented the government’s stance, stating, “It is a pity the government has chosen to declare war against the Catholic Church,” asserting that the current administration’s performance deserves a mere one out of ten since taking office in 2021.
He remarked that the government’s failure to accept divergent opinions stems from its lackluster performance, countering its claims of success.
Furthermore, he cautioned that the government might resort to using cyber laws against Christians, yet urged them to remain steadfast in their beliefs and actions, underscoring the importance of voicing their grievances through the electoral process.
Banda is not the church.Catholic church is bigger than one person,that priest should stop misleading people.
How can a man of God talk like that. How has government created war with yhe named church when they have just summoned someone to go and clarify issues where he’s linked to? It’s so shocking that that criminality involving others the same people are quiet and now that someone is mentioned, they talk of the church. Who does not belong to some church of some sort?
The long arm of the law follows wrong doers wherever they hide, even in churches. No one is on its shoulder (above it). We are all in its armpit (under it). So ‘Father’ Mwewa, stop dragging the whole Catholic church into one person’s quagmire. He was enjoying the proceed of crime alone. In any case, if morality was uppermost in you and all those howlers about this case, ‘Bishop’ Alick Hilux Banda should have been put to task and even called upon to resign from his clerical role. But alas, all we are seeing are defenders and eulogizers of criminality – those who call wrong right and right wrong. God help us.
Ba Father Mwewa, does it mean that when you as a priest criticise the UPND government, then there is an undeclared war against the government by the Catholic Church?
Let the DEC do their work without undue pressure. The clergy are not above the law neither do they represent the will of the people or the church when they speak. Most times they see issues through their personal lenses.
Equity before the law requires that we are all treated the same regardless of our station in life. If the Archbishop is innocent, nothing will come out of his summons. How many times was HH summoned by the police? How many accusations did he face (including treason)?
It all came to nought because he was innocent. Before I comment further, I will wait for the outcome of the Archbishop’s interview with DEC.
Country men and women, let’s not forget that a certain church was mentioned in the Rwandan genocide. It all starts with careless remarks like what we hearing now.
We should be careful with these men in white dresses. That statement he made is inciting people to rise against a legitimate government. I call upon the Police to summon him and explain the war that has been declared and who declared it. we don’t want the Rwanda situation because of a few wolves in sheep skins.
THAT GUY WHO REFERRED TO THEM AS DEVILS IN RECENT YEARS WAS RIGHT. A MAN OF GOD CANT TALK LIKE THAT, BANDA IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT A CHURCH.
Banda should step aside till investigations are over. If he is guilty ,please arrest him. For now let the childless fimo fimo keep quiet. It’s the bishops from Northern and eastern side of this country making noise. The country is too big for such a small thing like summoning a delinquent childless bishop. Let’s see what you are hiding. HH7 no size.
What Father M is suggesting is that when you are a priest then you have immunity against prosecution for any crime committed.
Bana, as long as you leave in Zambia, the laws of this country apply to you, whatever position you may hold.
Do not hide in the churches and decide to go against the law. As EMC has rightly put it, do not drag the congregants of the Catholic Faith into personal issues.
I don’t know why the priest’s summoning is being viewed as an arrest. DEC made it clear that it is merely an interview to assist in the investigation all because the priest was in possession of a motor vehicle that was incorrectly disposed of. It is him who had it & no one else, so who do people want to be summoned & how do they want the law enforcement agency to handle this matter without involving the man of the collar?
Where do you see the undeclared war here? Stop misleading people, even if another government came, I don’t think the Clergy will be free to commit crime. You are just misunderstanding issues.