They want Catholic Church contained – ZCCB

By NATION REPORTER THERE are attempts to break, contain and silence the ecclesiastical voice of the Catholic Church in Zambia by the UPND government, which has continued harassing and persecuting its leaders such as Archbishop Dr Alick Banda, Archbishop Ignatius Chama has aid. And Archbishop Chama has accused the UPND government of wanting to shed people’s blood by provoking the Catholic Church and Zambians in general so that they could rise and fight. Archbishop Chama, the president of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) says it was sacrilegious for the government in power to have turned the Catholic Church to its political competitor. In his homily in solidarity for Archbishop Dr Banda before his arrest yesterday, Archbishop Chama said the Catholic Church had a pastoral duty and calling by serving communities in many areas such as education, health and other social programmes. “Let us keep watch and pray for Archbishop Banda. They want to give us a chance to fight and shed blood but we will not do that. This is an unwarranted attack on the Catholic Church,” Archbishop Chama said. Archbishop Chama said the Catholic Church had been contributing socially and economically to the development of the nation and that it was sad that such efforts were being reduced and being seen as a threat to those in power. Archbishop Chama said the UPND had been harassing and persecuting the Catholic Church from time they came into government but cautioned that the Church was never going to submit to the whim and caprices of the regime. He said Catholic Church leaders as well as opposition political leaders were being persecuted but that the people of God should not use pangas, guns or take to the streets to fight back. “We will take this child on our laps and we will keep watching. God is of justice and truth. These are unwarranted charges on Bishop Banda and this is the darkest hour of his life. Let us pray for him,” Archbishop Chama said. Yesterday, the Drug Enforcement Commission arrested Archbishop Dr Banda on charges of unlawfully being in possession of property believed to be proceed of crime. Archbishop Dr Banda was accompanied to the DEC offices by his lawyer, John Sangwa, Dr Fred M’membe and Father Francis Mukosa, the Vicar General. Meanwhile, DEC yesterday confirmed in a statement that Archbishop Banda had been arrested and formally charged for unlawful possession of a vehicle belonging to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). “Particulars of the offence are that; Dr. Banda, on dates unknown, but between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023, allegedly had in his possession, a blue Toyota Hilux motor vehicle bearing Registration Number ALF 7734, being property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). The subject motor vehicle is part of a wider investigation involving approximately 22 ZRA motor vehicles alleged to have been improperly disposed of,” Mr Allan Tamba, the DEC public relations officer said.

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