A RIFT has erupted at Saint Peters’ Anglican Church in Chimwemwe between some members and their priest, Father Richard Luonde who they have accused of using church funds to finance outspoken cleric Father Frank Bwalya’s political aspirations.
Some irate church members yesterday locked the church to the public following the same wrangles that have left the congregation divided into two factions with one group demanding the immediate departure of Fr Luonde and other opposing the move.
The anti-Fr Luonde camp was also accusing the priest of indulging in adultery activities with married women in the congregation.
Posters containing messages denouncing Fr Luonde were also found stuck on the walls of either side of the church building with one of them reading that anyone who should temper or enter the building would be dealt with.
Fr Luonde who was also found stranded outside the church building expressed shock at the development of the locking of the building and attributed that to a few people within the church he said harbored hatred against him.
He denied the allegations both allegations of giving church money to Fr Bwalya and flirting around with married women in the congregation.
“First they started by accusing me that I am indulging in adultery and now they are saying I am diverting church offering and tithe to Fr Bwalya which is totally untrue and I know even one priest is involved in this,” he said.
Fr Luonde who was flanked by Church treasurer Burton Phiri, said if people had issues, he expected them to approach him rather than embarking on moves such as locking of the church building.
Congregation spokesperson Cuthbert Chuza earlier on denied any knowledge why the members locked the building saying this happened as a surprise to him.
“We came here for the service which starts at 09:30 hours but when we arrived around 09:00 hours, we found the building locked with a chain and a new lock and they have gone away with the keys,” he said.
Congregation Lay leader who is also building caretaker said he was not aware of who locked the church because he only found it locked when he woke up in the morning.
Police were called in around 11:00 hours to go and assess the situation and around 11:30 hours Fr Luonde faction was still outside the locked building.
This has all the omnious signs of evil PF conspiracy and its master manipulator MC Sata.Be warned Fr Bwalya you’re in battle with the worst party ever in Zed’s history.
PF should leave father bwalya alone,,, me i know the man, i doesnot need any funding from anyone.. father bwalya is a chicken farmer and sata knows it!
And this luonde guy is a die hard supporter of sata its not possible that he can fund father bwalya,,,
Luonda likesmarried women,, so people should chase him because of that ,, not funding father bwalya..
Father bwalya is a chicken farmer,, he makes his money by killing chickens
This is the result of PF involving the church into politics. You used the Catholic Church to win elections now the church has been politicized and this is the outcome. Church members will start fighting on political lines. Very sad.
How does the catholic church came into this issue which is completely within the Anglican church?
It is not pleasing to continue going to Church and we should just remove the clause that Zambia says is a christian Nation in our constitution. With all this hate being cultivated in our homes, churches, workplaces, stations, newspapers, online websites is worrying. I have seen and read the way people insult both on LT and Watchdog. It is unbelievable. The biggest evil is controlling most Zambians.
I will wait for insults now.
I am better off even to continue staying where I am for a meantime and see how life/Political situation infold.
Church is about you and your God and not the people.
If a priest is misbehaving it is between him and his God and that should not affect me nor cause me to stay away from church
What are you moderating?
Same here. For some unexplained reason, LT tend to ‘moderate’ a perfectly sane and educative submission. I assume its software problems or something. A bit annoying.
I think LT has to moderate more as the comments are vulgar. If this cannot be controlled, how do u expect PF or whoever to control their cadres from beating / locking up church members
Quick thinking church members.I like what they did.This womanizing clergyman should never again enter that church.He is a disgrace to Christianity. Well done ladies and gentlemen.
Satanic comment shame on you.
i think its high time we stop takin cheap politics in churchez but rather condem on real issues like the subsi die they are purpotin about,please lets not talk about pipo who will not bring change but retards development,we refuse cheap politics
You shall reap wha t you sow.Fr luonde is reaping.
I feel sad for the people who locked the church to stop father Lounde from procceeding with his priestly duties. The Biblical consequences are too serious to imagine.
Indeed the world has gone into the church and the violent are taking it by force. I am not Anglican but i am sure there is a judicial process that can handle all issues raised. In my opinion the isues raised for the concerned no to love the priest but hate him are trivial.
This is turning the Lord’s house into the market place.
Father Luonde, my brother, may God bless and keep you. Be strong and stand on the truth of the word of God. Jesus set you free 2000 years ago.
YOU WRITE LIKE YOU ARE GOD HIMSELF.I WISH YOU KNEW THIS LUONDE FORNICATOR.
THAT’S PF KAPONYA STYLE. CAN IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2016. THERE IS NO WAY CHURCHES WOULD BE AGAINST A WORKING GOVERNMENT. SOMETHING IS WRONG AND IT’S BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SEE THE SUFFERING OF THE POOR WHILE POLITICIANS ARE IN THE LOVELY HOMES, GROWING THEIR TUMMIES.
So embarrassing, very unchristian to act is such a thuggery manner. Whether Luonde was wrong or not locking the church is definitely the work of the devil coz God is Love and love is long suffering, Patience, Kind, never keeping a record of wrong and so on and so forth. The chaps are politically sponsored and whoever has disrespected the Church will definitely be punished like Nubbuccadnessar (Sp?). God help us!!!!
just exactly the same way it so happened in the judas escariot time. its the proper and pure work of evil.
Though people were wrong to lock up de church, u re not suporse to gudge them the way u have n on de othr hand pipo stay in chimwemwe with luonde so they know him. Tell him to repent n *t whorshipn GOD in truth n spirit n he wont b called a womaniza
But why should a priest involve himself in politics? Let all those clergy men who are politicians form their own political parties than hiding in churches. You are confusing people guys. The church is not a political arena please.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
There are two distinct points worth highlighting and clarifying here. 1.) The Church (and its Clergy) should NOT get involved into PARTISAN politics. This is simply because it loses its salt(=credibility+relevance), e.g. Father Bwalya has lost it, whether he likes it or not. 2.) The Church and (its Clergy) should and must engage in issue-based NON PARTISAN politics. This is simply because that is the hallmark of Christ himself, and it reinforces its salt in a society, e.g. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of RSA, late Bishop De Jong of Ndola. So, Churches must make the right choices from this current confusion in order to rise above. With the help of God we have risen from similar situations before.
That’s bowowlya’s plan!
Serves him right with his verbal diarrhoea! A quack masquerading as a clergyman
Mmembe is a dangerous self-serving opportunist and a neurotic liar who can best be described as a predator and a narcissist whose behavior is characterized by egotism, vanity, and pride. He seeks self-gratification, and domination. He sees himself as a powerful and influential individual and enjoys dumping shame onto others. He truly believes that people are hooked to the stuff he peddles. His hypocritical “Lie about Zambia” editorial is preposterous. Read it again and you will see him licking his own wounds.
A desperate megalomaniac and a ranting media neophyte who is suffering from a great deficit of self-esteem.
The above comment is what we know about Mmembe, coming from a fellow journalist. We aught to know that this priest, Luonde, and his flock is divided because of this priest’s association with the post newspaper.
Exposing secret organisation.
NEVERRS MUMBA. FRANNK BWALYA. LUONDE. ALL HAVE SAME THING IN COMMON
Ba PF cant you handle opposing views?
What are you surprised all you?? This is simply an example of false Christianity…involvement into politics and fighting against each other,the Bible says you will know by their fruits.
Mad priests.
most of you bloggers u ar nt in zambia,i wonder if u hav even voted before,toking alone wil not help us,my vot is my secret