By ROGERS KALEROP
POLITICALLY-INCLINED statements against the Patriotic Front (PF) from some renowned clergy may force the former ruling party to react and respond to their utterances, accordingly,” the Patriotic Front (PF) has warned
Copperbelt Provincial Mobilisation Secretary Kangwa Puta said the PF was a political party which drew a lot of counsel from the clergy community and holds them in very high esteem, but it was now dismayed that some renowned clergy have been issuing politically inclined statements against the former ruling party.
Ms Puta was reacting to pastor Nevers Mumba’s sentiments that PF are exhibiting arrogance because they are in a dream that they have not lost power yet they have
Dr. Mumba predicted that PF officials, who have been vocal after losing power, will go quiet in the next two to three months as they face justice.
And former Lusaka Catholic archbishop Telesphore Mpundu said the PF are crybabies because they were being treated the way they treated people when they were in power.
But in response , Ms Puta said if clergymen do not tame their tongues the PF may have no other recourse, but be forced to react and respond to their utterances, accordingly.
“The PF is a political party that draws a lot of counsel from the clergy and holds them in very high esteem. To our dismay, lately, renowned clergy have been issuing politically inclined statements against the PF which, I am afraid is making the respect and patience that we normally give the clergy, to wear thin.
“As much as the clergy are at liberty to speak and give their guidance on National matters, they should bear in mind that this advice has to be done in a Godly, fair and consistent manner. They should remember whom they are serving first, above all others (God Almighty), otherwise they will be labelled as political cadres,” Ms Puta said
Ms Puta said it was not in the PF’s nature, interest or principles to go into a “War of Words” with men and women of God.
“As PF, we would like to state that it is not in our nature, interest or principles to go into a “War of Words” with men and women of God,” she said
Ms Puta also said the UPND has realised that it had no capacity to fulfil its campaign promises or to match the performance of the former ruling party and has now resorted to intimidating, threatening the PF officials, most of whom it was detaining without a charge
He said the arrests and detention of some PF officials without a charge were aimed at diverting the attention of Zambians from the failures of the New Dawn government
“With regards the recent rampant arrests of some PF leaders: One is made to believe that the UPND are just trying to show that they are not backtracking on their failed campaign promises, which were infested with lies and propaganda!
PF were labelled as thieves, however, until now the law enforcement agencies have not come up with any concrete or incriminating information for us to applaud their crusade of fighting corruption,” she said
