HOUSE of Chiefs Chairperson in Luapula, Chief Chisunka has accused Archbishop Dr Alick Banda of promoting disunity and perpetuating divisions by allegedly issuing politically motivated statements against the UPND government
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The controversial Chief Chisunka, whose real name is Justine Mwakamwaya and whose father originally hailed from the Southern region and his mother being Ushi from Luapula is accusing Archbishop Dr Banda of the Lusaka Diocese of being pro-Patriotic Front for rebuffing President Hakainde Hichilema’s attacks against Catholic Priests.
But Stephen Kampyongo has chastised Chief Chisunka for attempting to covert the House of Chiefs into a partisan political mouthpiece for the governing UPND to promote and perpetuate hatred and mischievousness against the Church, particularly the Catholic Church.
Mr Kampyongo says it is shocking that the House of Chiefs under Chief Chisunka could accuse Dr Banda of promoting disunity and divisions in the country when the Catholic prelate was only speaking for the majority poor Zambians who were suffering because of the UPND’s harsh economic policies.
Mr Kampyongo, the Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament is wondering whether such a politically strong statement was sanctioned and cleared by the House of Chiefs or was issued at the whims and caprices of the House of Chief Chairperson.
He stated that Chief Chisunka should refrain from turning the House of Chiefs which under other traditional leaders had remained neutral and often acted as an arbiter on governance matters.
He said it was unfortunate that Chief Chisunka in the name of the House of Chiefs had joined President Hichilema and the UPND in attacking and abusing the Catholic Church whose only sin was to speak the truth and for the voiceless.
Mr Kampyongo stated that the House of Chiefs was being political and partisan by peddling a narrative that under the PF, citizens were being brutalised and that the former ruling party had borrowed recklessly thereby plunging the country into debt.
“There is a danger that the respected House of Chiefs could be turned into a partisan political tool to attack, scandalise and harangue the Catholic Priests who have become the victim of the UPND venom for speaking for the people. It is true that Zambians need cheaper and affordable mealie meal and not the graphs they are being subjected to.”
“The advice from the Catholic Priests to the UPND government should not warrant attacks and innuendoes. It is inappropriate for the House of Chiefs to insinuate that Archbishop Dr Alick Banda is a PF supporter who failed to condemn the alleged gassing and brutalisation of citizens. And how does the House of Chiefs accuse the PF of having misappropriated public resources and borrowing irresponsibly,” Mr Kampyongo wondered.
Mr Kampyongo, the Shiwang’andu Patriotic Front member of Parliament said while the party had grand respect for the House of Chiefs, it was worrying that the traditional leadership under Chief Chisunka had embarked on a political trajectory that had the potential to polarise the country.
And Chief Chisunka is claiming that the Catholic Priests who are condemning and criticising the governance shortcomings of the new dawn administration did not criticise the PF during the time there were reports of gassing in the country.
Chief Chisunka has singled out Bishop Dr Banda, as a Catholic Priest who allegedly did not defend widows and other victims whom he said suffered from the alleged brutality of the former ruling party.
In a statement captioned; “Fostering unity among citizens, the clergy’s vital role in overcoming past divisions,” the House of Chiefs said those who are criticising the UPND administration were quiet when people were allegedly being murdered at the hands of political thugs.
He accused the Catholic Priests of having deliberately failed to provide checks and balances when what he claimed was abuse and misappropriation of public resources.
According to Chief Chisunka, the Archbishop of Lusaka had no moral right, authority to criticise what he termed a simple graph used by President Hichilema to illustrate his economic achievements and should therefore take a moment and reflect what the new dawn administration had achieved so far.
“We cannot ignore the unfortunate history where some members of the clergy identified themselves as Christians for specific individuals and engaged in partisan attacks against political leaders. Did those who criticise now also condemn the gas attacks on innocent citizens? Did they defend widows and other victims who suffered brutalisation and murder at the hands of political thugs? Did they shed light on the abuse and misappropriation of public resources and the irresponsible borrowing that plunged us into massive debt? Did they speak against the withdrawal of students’ meal allowances and other harmful practices,” Chief Chisunka questioned.
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