Don’t strain diplomatic ties with Vatican

By NATION REPORTER A ZAMBIAN Catholic priest based in Rome, Italy has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to exercise restraint and respect Zambia’s longstanding diplomatic relationship with the Vatican when handling the arrest and arraignment of Lusaka Archbishop, Dr Alick Banda before the courts of law. Father Martin Mwango has cautioned that although the law was expected to take its course if Archbishop Dr Banda committed an offence as is being claimed by the State, authorities should also consider the diplomatic dimension surrounding the Catholic Church and the Vatican. “If indeed he (Archbishop Dr Banda) made a mistake, which we know is not true, the law should be applied with due respect to the rights of the accused. Yes, he has been arrested, embarrassed and humiliated but there are some fears that maybe this is vengeance because the Archbishop has been critical and speaking truth to the UPND government,” Fr Mwango said. He said the charges of being in possession of a motor vehicle that was allegedly unlawfully obtained should not be viewed merely as a criminal matter but also in the context of Zambia’s relationship with the Vatican. “The Catholic Church, through the Pope and the Vatican, had a unique international status and that Church leaders should therefore be handled with due consideration. It is a question of diplomatic relationship between the Vatican and the Zambian government,” he said. Fr Mwango said if Archbishop Dr Banda was accused of wrongdoing, investigations could proceed, but the authorities should be mindful of the office he was holding in the Catholic Church. “If we are told he’s guilty, they can investigate him. We are free to be investigated. However, looking at the office that Banda is bearing, it is just his office [that] makes him to be a diplomatic man who should be handled with that status,” he said. He challenged President Hichilema to protect the relationship between Government and the Catholic Church, which he said had existed even before the country’s independence. Fr Mwango also highlighted the Catholic Church’s contribution to the education and health sectors, saying it had remained a major stakeholder in national development. He said Catholic institutions were involved in schools, hospitals, nursing schools, hospices and home-based care programmes. Fr Mwango also appealed for mercy and restraint, saying national leaders should demonstrate forgiveness and protect the image of the Church. “A leader should have that heart. Whether those two boys made a mistake or not, forgive them. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

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