By NOEL IYOMBWA
ARCHBISHOP Telesphore Mpundu has reduced himself to a mere surrogate of opposition political organisations, says nominated Member of Parliament Raphael Nakacinda.
Mr Nakacinda said Archbishop Mpundu was playing in the mud of political rhetoric which does not reflect his position in society.
The MP was reacting to claims by Archbishop Mpundu that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is trying to rig the 2021 elections.
“First all when men who are expected to be of high esteem in society become surrogates of opposition political organisations which don’t have a clear ideology or agenda they behave like wild cats that just to make unnecessary noise.
“To suspect that ECZ is trying to rig the elections is a foolish argument. Archbishop Mpundu should not tempt us to talk in a manner that is unZambian especially that he has been a Christian leader.
Mr Nakacinda wondered how the ECZ would rig elections because once someone registers, no one could determine who they would vote for.
He said that ECZ should be commended because it had done a fantastic job in the voter registration exercise.
Mr Nakacinda advised Archbishop Mpundu to rise above board and help the country to heal and not always trying to divide it.
He observed that the Archbishop had been preaching doom for the country which does not reflect well on his office.
Archbishop Mpundu has been quoted in a local tabloid accusing ECZ of being “thieves” and trying to rig the coming elections by systematically disenfranchising voters.
The Archbishop alleged that the voter registration started in the rainy season which made it difficult for voters especially in rural areas to move.
He claimed that this was done on purpose to reduce the number of voters.
And, Patriotic Front Lusaka Province secretary Kennedy Kamba said the continued attacks on the ECZ by UPND-inclined clergymen was an irrational attempt to cause confusion and provoke the electorates because they know President Edgar Lungu was retaining the Presidency
Mr Kamba said the PF was surprised that the respected Archbishop Mpundu had joined the bandwagon of frustrated individuals who were making attempts to discredit the ECZ.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Kamba warned the clergyman to stop involving President Lungu and the PF in malicious agenda.
