Thursday, March 28, 2024

We deported the Catholic Priest because he had no legal papers to remain in Zambia-Lungu

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HOME Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu
HOME Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu

MINISTER of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu has described the relations between the Catholic Church and the Patriotic Front government as solid.

This is despite the deportation of Catholic priest Viateur Banyangadora who has followed up his deportation with an attack on President Sata and his government.

“The relations between government, the Catholic Church and the Rwandan government have remained solid despite the deportation of the Rwandese Catholic priest,” said Mr Lungu in an interview yesterday.

The Catholic priest, back in his native Rwanda has, meanwhile, attacked President Sata’s leadership.

Sections of the Zambian media have quoted the priest as saying: “You see, my deportation back home was absurd. I have (sic) in Zambia for a long time now. The people there are great. I was in Zambia under Mr (Rupiah) Banda and I can tell you he wasn’t like that. He allowed criticism.

“But that cannot be said about the incumbent [Micheal (sic)] Sata. He is a very arrogant man. And so are his ministers. He is (sic) man who doesn’t allow anyone to criticise him. When you do, he sends police officers to your home.”

The priest is also quoted as saying Mr Sata’s government may not rule after 2016.

But speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr Lungu elaborated on the deportation.

“We deported the man because he had no legal papers to remain in Zambia,” Mr Lungu said and continued: “We later came to learn about his divisive sermons after his deportation, which he has not even challenged.”

The minister said despite not having valid legal papers to work in Zambia, the priest overstretched Zambia’s hospitality and started preaching hate and divisions.

He described as “desperate” attempts by opposition parties and sections of the media to try and politicise the deportation when keeping the priest in Zambia “spelled potential danger”.

“What the opposition and some sections of the media which are not credible are doing, is to clutch on straws like drowning men,” Mr Lungu said, “but I can tell you it won’t work because the PF is miles ahead of them…they are like specks in the rear view mirror of a cruising car. We are working for the people as they play cheap politics,” he said.

Mr Lungu said “as a responsible government, we know what hate messages spread by people like this priest have done in the region and we would be failing in our duty if we stood by and did nothing while divisions are being encouraged.”

And reacting to complaints from Transparency International Zambia executive director Goodwell Lungu and Reverend George Lungu of Chipata over the deportation, the minister writes in his letter dated August 13, 2012 that the priest has not even appealed.

“We have received no appeal from Father Viateur Banyangandora nor a retraction of his anti-government speeches which had the effect of creating unnecessary hostility between church members and Government,” Mr Lungu writes in a letter copied to President Sata.

Both had written to Government on August 8 2012, to complain about the deportation, but Mr Lungu writes: “Whilst appreciating your counsel to the ministry on the issue of Father Viateur Banyangandora’s deportation, I wish to advise that an appeal against deportation is a right that the affected person can exercise.”

He added: “An appeal from Father Banyangandora is what will form a basis for review of his case.”

On Sunday, about 130 Catholic Diocesan Priests, who attended a national conference in Chipata asked Government to consider revoking the deportation order.

A statement from the Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy urged Government to issue a comprehensive statement.

The priests implored the Catholic community and priests in Chipata Diocese, and Zambians to remain calm, peaceful and prayerful as they await Fr Banyangandora’s return.

They said Fr Banyangandora is an effective and committed member of the Catholic Church since his ordination to priesthood in 2004.

The statement was issued by Chipata Diocese Bishop Reverend Geroge Lungu and was read on Sunday in all the Diocesan Catholic parishes in Eastern Province.

And the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has called on Government to revoke the deportation order.

A pastoral letter issued in Lusaka yesterday by CCZ general secretary Suzanne Matale reads in part: “The deportation of the Catholic priest, Fr Viateur Banyangandora, pastor of Lundazi, is totally unacceptable and unfortunate.

“The CCZ is calling for the nullification of his deportation.”

[Zambia Daily Mail]

85 COMMENTS

  1. Silly response. The priest had a valid work permit. check with the ZEC and any catholic mission authorities register and you’ll find a long list of foreign clergy with permits just like the rwandan priest.

  2. The PF hunting for reasons for the deportation. They lied that they came to know about his “hate” sermon after deportation when they picked him up in the first place on accusation of “hate” sermon.

    Circus. The GoDs MuSt Be CrAzY PaRt VIII

  3. Th Government has bitten off a little more than they can chew; this is no UPND or MMD cheap Politics. This is the Catholic Church.

    • What about the Catholic Church? haven’t you been watching the news lately haven’t you seen the corruption that is taking place in the Pope’s office in Rome.

  4. what exactly did this man say? whatever he said, we do not need such priests. these are the likes who ran away from the genocide. good riddance, let him stay in Rwanda.

  5. PF is now playing with fire. Mark my words, it won’t be long before something happens.
    It will soon be pay back time. They have done so much wrong in the short time period they have been in power, GOD is watching them.

  6. UMWENSO. Now you continue to peddle lies about the validity of his papers. All this nonsense could have been avoided had you not hurriedly deported the priest. Prohibited immigrants stay in police custody for months before been deported. Why this particular case expressily excuted?

    • Deportation orders can made within hours fellow Zambians if you do not have valid papers.No wonder why his Govt. has not raised any hand in protest .He had asked for it knowing that he was an illegal immigrant.Now we can arrest this case and move on since we have known the truth.

    • Any Govt. has special branch why pick on this priest answer simple he forgot his mandate that is to propagate the gospel and not insulting the govt.As a foreigner Iam supposed to obey the law of the land which country can allow a foreigner to insult thr current govt leaders

  7. what language has number 7 used and can someone translate??? I can just understand from his name that their is a kabwa at the end meaning a Dog, can we explain this?

    • “Kibinda waba Kabwa” is Lunda meaning ” A hunter who uses dogs as weapons”. If you ever listened to Masasu Band, they released a song called “Sobongo” therein you will find they said “Sobongo Kibinda waba Kabwa”. In Bemba they would say “Umulunshi wambwa”. Some hunters use guns, spears, and so forth. My comment “kwenu nikwikoshi tababula kufwenako”; is bemba literally saying: “home is home, like it or not, you will one day go there”. Its like at the back of your neck, like or not, willingly or nor, you will scratch it. meaning, like it or not, there are many ways to go back home. If the priest is really from Rwanda he has found himself there.
      Cheers

  8. “We deported the man because he had no legal papers to remain in Zambia,” Mr Lungu said and continued: “We later came to learn about his divisive sermons after his deportation, which he has not even challenged.”
    what a lie ba minister. you cant defend this blunder and you assume the relationship with the catholic church is as intact……dream on. the catholics are principled and cant be bought with lies. you are playing with fire but anyhow good for 2016 since your boss has dissapointed most of us who though he could cope.

  9. PF is treating us like fools.Why didnt you say this before?Why didnt you arrest him instead of quickly deporting him.
    We are not fools, the fact is you have failed to run gvt and you are intimidatind everyone to cover up for your failings.We are not as stupid as you think

  10. Let the priest stay in Rwanda. After all he is safe there and it is home. Furthermore, as a foreigner, you cannot be seen to be politicising against your host government.

    • Gundix
      Leaving in the UK you and I both know that if you criticised the Govt, you would not end up deported. It’s very disheartening that people with exposure real democracy can be so frivolous simply to propagate party affiliation. You should know better and strive to educate the less exposed. 

  11. Deport Reverend George Lungu too he is from Malawi and he is being used by Rb, these Ruandees priests can sleep walk you into serious civil war, read the history of Ruanda if you were born yesterday. Keep them out, LUNGU WELL DONE.
    This 

  12. why cant the fellow priests appeal on his behalf? or let him appeal if his not guilty of the case or matter at hand…..simple!

    • I share the same views.Why are the lawyers or any concerned citizen or the Catholic church  not making an effort to appeal. Any way we have Hyenas in Sheeps clothing some may be used to revolt against Gort .Let Sata ateke mumutende his has shown good character he does not even talk on such issues ala nifwe tulesabaila

  13. But you had to wait untill he confirms the PF has failled to lead the country & Sata has killed the Zambian economy. I have slowly started loving HH may he will one day bring sanity in Zambia & i know am not the only one who feels this way.

  14. NO. 8 and 11, I totally agree with you.These Pf ministers can’t manage to go to bed before telling a childish lie, otherwise they can’t sleep.From ‘HATE AND DIVISIVE SERMONS’ to ‘NO LEGAL PAPERS’.FLIP,FLOP,FLIP,FLOP. How many foreigners, including rwandese, are in our remand prisons awaiting deportation?? Ironically,this guy poses as a lawyer who should know better about deportations. Before we even start recovering from the ‘2015 ONE MILLION JOBS’ lie from his friend Sakeni, they bombard us with another lie.At the rate we are moving, if these guys tell me that tommorrow will be friday, I can’t believe them

  15. There’s a very critical shortage of Priests in Zambi. In rural Zambia this is even more so. Mr. Minister, are you elected or nominated? If you’re trying to keep your job, you will soon be jobless.

  16. Emmasdale in lusaka and Ndeke in ndola are overrun with Somalians, Chawama yili nama rwandese fulu fulu, ba Mwenye import their relatives every day. living without papers is the norm for the majority of foreigners in Zambia yet they acted switfly under the cover of darkness to deport this one man? since when did Immigration start doing their Job bazayambila pali fr waku Rwanda? I aint buying it.
    The Catholic church better not have records to the contrary regarding this priests immigration status otherwise his lies will be exposed.

  17. Let him stay in Rwanda. Afrte all, there are more sinners there. They need him much more thatn we do, if at all we need him. Arrogant bastard!!

  18. Good riddance. This is not Rwanda were there is no respect for human life. This is Zambia, we dont tolerate genocidal gibberish.

    If anyone wants the priest back,let them follow him to Rwanda and stay there.

  19. This Govt is full of lies and one wonders why the police are not issuing call outs and pressing charges on these perpetual liers. Only a few days following the deportation Edgar Lungu gave a media briefing specifically saying that the priest was deported because of his actions that were (and again) “likely to cause breach of the peace and order”. He did not specify the actions but I can’t imagine how the lack of immigration papers would cause the breach of the peace. It seems “breach of the peach and order” is the new buzz words in the corridors of state house. Unfortunately they don’t apply to those who lie about trillions of fake currency in circulation.

    • iwe kolwe naiwe unyapofye amafi apa pa site, watch your mouth! u thot yo father in MMD would stay forever? mwanya ngatamwashikile ishingi impiya you will eat your fieces

    • awe kwena ulichipuba! hw do u wish yo friend to die? ok give your self 2 weeks and see what happens to you, you will mark my words

  20. Priest have been prosecuted for the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda. Catholics have a way of taking advantage of their presence and popular following to get away with anything. In the case of priests abusing young children in Ireland, USA and other countries, the heads of the church were aware of the criminality but opted to cover it in the name of ecclesia catholicism.
    Why should this priest refer to the Patriotic Front (PF) as Paya Farmer, when he is well aware that the international price of cotton had collapsed? was he not trying to inflamme the those who are less well informed to rise against its own government? Priests are educated, but they know that the catholic church thrives in an environment of socialism. PF had no budget to subsidise the cotton pricing. so let this man stay HOME!

  21. Mr Edgar Lungu sounds like he catching up with issuing statements clouded with semantics. The problem he believes the Zambian people are naive and silly . Why would a supposedly intelligent young man be issuing such UNIP like statement. I suppose the fear of the Bigger Boss, the Campo.!

  22. Fellow bloggers??? It took time for the Bishop to react to the Diportation. If the Priest in question was having valid papers, the Church would have disclosed long time ago. The man came as a refugee and started his seminary formation in zambia. So let us wait for more information before we castigate the Govt

  23. Are Zambians looked as as dull imbeciles by politicians for them to to have the guts to spew lies to us day in day out? I’m not Catholic but support those calling for nullification of the priests deportation because today PF deports a priest,next day arrest an opposition leader,next day they will deport a pentcostal pastor.What will stop them at this rate since they are above the Law

    • Law is law if you break the law you are punished period don’t just criticise I live in a land where you can not break the law and go un punished 

  24. Ubufi bule nunka noku nunka iwe Lungu!!Leken ubufi and stop behaving like a government that is insecure after all you won legitimately.Muleisebanya fye!!

  25. Soon Zambia will be privatized to the Chines and three quarters of *****s on this site will have no issues with that, in as mush as the priest was correct with his sermon, our internal affairs has strictly nothing do with him, he is not one of us. Certain issues are just to sensitive to be left open for everyone to comment on them, especially ba mwiisa, we have to protect our sovereignty. The problem we have in Zambia is that we have no sense of ownership, no-wonder it will take us ages to develop this nation. For now its animal farm at its best.

  26. UKWA what do you mean the priest is not one of us.He lived in Zambia and was affected by decisions being made by politicians every day.This business of labelling people just because they were born a few kilometres from the borders the colonialist drew up has no place in todays world.Did you watch the Olympics? Did you see those Africans waving British flags,or representing countries like Bahrain? Thats how you develope you don’t make an issue about where someone was born.Thats why America is great.Everyone there is a foreigner and as long as you are doing good for the land no-one cares.

  27. Zambia is very laid back with foreigners. They live in the country without the immigration authorities breathing down their necks. Some illegals will be found selling second-hand shoes outside major departmental stores, in places like Kasama, without resident permits, let alone trade permits. Other illegals, like this ungrateful Rwandese priest can even get subversive against Zambia. Well, go to some of Zambia’s neighbouring countries and learn how these countries don’t take kindly to have fellow (black) Africans in their midst. They will hound one in all manner of ways until one feels compelled to retreat to Zambia.

  28. So now reports are the priest never gave an interview to anyone in Rwanda. Are the shushu behind these stories to create public support for the government action

  29. @Lundazi Dweller
    Its that Zambia Watchpig bogue site and its unethical keyboard tapping clowns cooking up sensational stories for its feeble minded bloggers. Wha do you expect from an HH funded site. The priest himself said he has never gave an interview to any media organisation, not even in Rwanda about his deportation or what he thinks of  Sata and PF Govt. in  telephone interview on CrossFire BlogRadio.

  30. I sometimes wonder why presidents give positions of minister to small minds like Lungu. The chap cant reason when telling a lie. Learn from your president. He is good at that. He managed to lie that he will create jobs in 90 days, give us a constitution in 90 days, etc and the lie was well reasoned than that trash you are throwing to us.

  31. @Maxwell,

    We need a free press in Zambia. The Zambian Watchdog is an example of free press and free media. They are not controlled by Govt. All the other Media houses, with the exception of only LT are controlled by your Dictator Sata. Post is controlled by Sata and pedles lies against the opposition and in favor of the govt. Times and Daily have continued to be instruments of propaganda for Sata. So don’t come here and complain about just ONE media outlet that is not dancing to your tune and that of Satan. Think Maxwell. If a govenment that you don’t like comes into office and controls all the media what are you going to do. I support freedom of speach even Mumembe’s freedom of Speach though I don’t like what he says. Think!!!

  32. And you call yourself a christian nation of corruption, embezzlement, stop cheating God you are no christan nation at all.

  33. BA LUNGU ,MUKADEPORTER NA BA YESU.YOU HAVE CHARGED THE PROPHET, CHANDA CHIMBA 3.YOU HAVE CHARGED THE PRESIDENT. OUR PRESIDENT FOR PUBLISHING INFORMATION FROM POST TO THE TIMES ,FROM THE TIMES TO THE DAILIES.BUT HE HAS NO REPORTERS OR EDITORS.HOW?

  34. “We deported the man because he had no legal papers to remain in Zambia,” Mr Lungu said and continued: “We later came to learn about his divisive sermons after his deportation, which he has not even challenged.”

    “We have received no appeal from Father Viateur Banyangandora nor a retraction of his anti-government speeches which had the effect of creating unnecessary hostility between church members and Government,” Mr Lungu writes in a letter copied to President Sata. SO WHY WAS HE DEPORTED – LACK OF PAPERS OR HATE SERMONS, SIR MINISTER? BOZA YAKUPEZA!

  35. I pity you sir.How many statements are you going to cook so that your purpoted solid relationship can hold.You have lost it sir.We catholics shall make sure he comes back whether in 2020 or tommorrow.Mwaitaya dad.

  36. Can you please deport Congolese, they are ones operating in the country without papers.

    they steal even our NRC, these are people who need to be deportd, coz they are crooks.

  37. another lay edgar nowonder yo practicing licence as a lawyer was revocked the caholic church is a responsible church that can not keep a priest without papers you think you are doing damage control but you are making the mistake even wase anyway filiukotuleya.mwafilwa ukuteka bane naifwe tatwamwebe ifyo tukachita tiye nato.

  38. such unabashed lies!!! i could not believe that this guy could take zambians to be so stupid and gullible as to believe this, but then again on second thoughts, i think it makes perfect sense that he feels he can get away with it as he is convinced that zambians ARE indeed stupid and gullible and will believe anything. how could anyone in his/her normal senseshave believed all those lies which pf peddled during the campaigns

  39. Do not just look at the dark side of the picture why this priest? we have hundreds of missionaries and yet non has been deported this should ring a bell prevention is better than cure the Lord warned us that be aware of hyenas in the sheeps clothing.If he was a man of God he will do what the Lord commands us but instead he calls our president evil names you shall no them by thier fruit

    • Thank you sosa,i love your annalysis,its amazing how zambians want to play with the law
      …..some 1 didnt hve valid papers and w’re busy condemning gvt
      In morocco someone gets arrested for eating in the streets during ramadan & endangers himself of deportation…..
      But hre i see somebdy his evn insulting our president & his still supported,were are taking our reasoning as zambians????????
      Its very sad & pathetic!!!!!

    • What did he say that was insulting your President? I think this Man was speaking on behalf of the poor that can’t instruct the finance minister to issue a statutory instrument to raise their income by 99.6% then a further K50m in 4months while all their expenses are fully paid for by the very people who are struggling. A spade is a spade whether said by a foreign priest or a local politician. If anything it is the president insulting you and the suffering Zambians who put him in office.

  40. No one is above the law zambians are deported in other countries but we dont argue like this,whats so special about this priest who has now forgotten his duty & busy issuing hate statements against the president?
    He can hang for what i care his not better than a dog!!!!

  41. Is there a smart person in PF government? Because every single statement they issue does not make sense. Its like they were all recruited from bus stations on the copperbelt and Lusaka.

  42. #6, THIS IS OUR COUNTRY. PF PLAYING WITH WHICH FIRE, MY FRIEND? PF HAS THE NATIONAL DUTY TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS FROM CARELESS PEOPLE LIKE FATHER, WHATEVER. LET HIM GO TO HIS COUNTRY. THEY MAY NEED HIM IN HIS COUNTRY WITH GAINED KNOWLEDGE IN ZAMBIA. WE HAVE ENOUGH CROOKS IN THE NAME OF PASTERS WHO CAN STILL STEAL FROM SLEEPY ONES IN THE NAME OF TITHE.

  43. #19, MOST OF PRIEST SHORTAGES ARE BEING ARTIFICIALLY CREATED BY PRIESTS SUCH AS NEVERS MUMBA (yah! amashina yacibemba, aya. Ati Nevers, bambi ati Eford, bambi ati Chriticles- are these names in dictionaries or the bible?) WHO AFTER FAILING TO CON PIPO THRU TITHE ABANDON PREACHING. NEVERS MUMBA HI-JACKS OTHER PIPO’S ACHIEVEMENTS JUST LIKE HIS BEDMATE HH.

  44. #20 THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SCRAMBLE FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP EVEN B4 ZAMBIANS FINISH FILLING THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP FORMS IN DIASPORA. MARK MY WORDS AND WATCH THIS SPACE.

  45. #36, YOU ARE SPOT-ON. ITS THE CASE OF A WHITEMAN CALLING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NIGGA- whatever it means. HE WOULD BE SCRAMBLED THE WAY MUZUNGUS SCRAMBLED FOR AFRICA. BUT, ITS OK AFRICAN-AMERICANS CALLING EACH OTHER, NIGGA. ZAMBIANS, DON’T LET BAMWISA START COMMENTING ON INTERNAL ISSUES. THEY ARE FOR CITIZENS’ CONSUMPTION ONLY. ASKING ZAMBIANS WORKING IN BOTSWANA IF THEY THROW SCORN ON THE WAY BOTSWANA IS RUN.

  46. #38, AN AMERICAN MINING COMPANY IN CONGO NEEDED A ZAMBIA FOR THE MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT POSITION A MY FRIEND FROM UK WENT THRU INTERVIEWS AND GOT A JOB. HE COULDN’T WORK FOR FURTHER THAN 3 YEARS. HE WAS HAUNDED OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY THE CITIZENS. I AM PRETTY SURE IF HE HAD FORCED HIS WAY ON HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. DON’T GET ME WRONG. I AM NOT SAYING LETS BE DOING THE SAME. BUT, ITS HIGH TIME ZAMBIANS STARTED PRACTICALLY BEING PATRIOTIC.

  47. #43 bricklayer- or whatever, IMBWA SHIMALONDA ARE NOT A FREE PAPER. THEY ARE SPONSORED BY HH. THEY CAN ONLY WRITE POSITIVE STORIES ON HH AND ANYTHING BAD ABOUT PF AND GRZ. LUSAKATIMES IS TRYING. THE ONLY SERIOUS IMPROVEMENT THEY NEED IS GRAMMAR.

  48. HH will rule Zambia, Sata wanyanya ignorance.He is ruling the country like kantemba.Since last year sept I can’t really see the direction he is taking us,just creating more problems and messing up things.The next gov.will have a lot of work to mop up his mess.Bwezani was better than Sata.

  49. The Catholic is a well organised entity in the world to have a Priest without legal documents. Are you saying that the Bishop of Chipata can have illegal immigrants in his Diocese. Lets put logic together, and not tell tails with the Cathoilc Church. My advise is that the government avoid coimng out directly into reactions without pillars of truth. Only in truth shall you find peace and democracy. Really let PF learn from persecutions and depressions they wait through as opposition, and a party that seemed to have understood Zambian’s plight…. Zambia has about 12 million people per sei with alot of natural and mineral reasources it cannot fail to create jobs for the youths. More money in the pockets…… of those pockets. take that money to create jobs for the youths….. ext. ext.

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