It’s a witch-hunt, brace for the worst

By NATION REPORTER NINE Catholic Bishops from across the nine provinces yesterday gathered at the Lusaka Central Prison, popularly known as Chimbokaila to witness the release of Lusaka Archbishop Dr Alick Banda who was made to spend a night in prison despite having met all the bail conditions on Monday. And Brebner Changala, who was among the nine Bishops and lawyers representing Archbishop Banda has said Zambia has not yet seen the “best” of President Hakainde Hichilema in terms of cracking down on opponents and silencing any dissent voices. Mr Changala, the civil rights and political activist warned that Zambians had not yet seen the worst of the UPND regime and should therefore brace themselves for harder times. “The Catholic Church can withstand anything but we have not seen anything yet from UPND. The worst is yet to come and Zambians should brace themselves. If they (UPND government) can brutally go for the Archbishop (Dr Banda), what about ordinary citizens…what about those who are challenging them politically. This is the first time in Zambia’s history that we have witnessed a Catholic Archbishop being arrested and humiliated like this,” Mr Changala said. He stated that the arrest of Archbishop Dr Banda was nothing but pure and clear witch-hunt and vitimasation by the Hakainde Hichilema’s administration. He explained that the UPND regime had from the beginning set out an agenda to silence and contain the Catholic Church and that was why the ruling party operatives, including senior members had continued to demonise the Church and its leaders. Mr Changala stated that President Hichilema had set out to persecute the Catholic Church because he strongly believed that Archbishop Dr Banda had supported former President Edgar Lungu. He said it was also the belief of President Hichilema and the UPND that the Catholic Church had supported Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu in the August general election, which culminated into the arrest and detention of the two leaders and 16 other on treason charges. “Never at any one time did we ever think we could sink this low in terms of our democratic credentials. This country is under siege and Zambians should brace themselves for the worst. If they (UPND government) can go for the Archbishop Alick Banda, what about other ordinary citizens,” he said. Mr Changala explained that the arrest and arraignment of Archbishop Banda was nothing to do with the rule of law but everything to do with the desire to harass, victimise and humiliate him. “This was meant to embarrass and humiliate Archbishop Banda. I know that there is a plot to have him removed from Lusaka and that is why I have publicly accused the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Gian Luca Perici of being a co-adventurer in the scheme by the UPND to contain the Catholic Church in Zambia,” Mr Changala said.

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