EMBATTLED St Peters’ Anglican Church priest, Father Richard Luonde has waged a spirited fight against congregants orchestrating his removal from the Chimwemwe congregation in Kitwe by reporting them to the police.
Fr Luonde said in the wake of Sunday’s incidence involving the locking of the church by irate members accusing him of using church funds to finance priest-cum politician Frank Bwalya’s political activities, that he knew the people who were undermining and trying to eliminate him and had decided to report them to police.
“We have reported the case to the police and I have people in mind who are behind I will not speak further because I don’t what to pre-empty police investigations,” Fr Luonde said.
He said he planned to hold a press briefing but only after he had discussed the matter with Archie Bishop Albert Chama who he was scheduled to meet today.
“I will be holding a press briefing where I want to come and challenge the people behind this because this is a prolonged issue which started way back and I only learnt its seriousness when they first locked the church in November last year and I had to cut the chain,” he said.
Fr Luonde said among the people undermining and trying to eliminate him was a senior Anglican priest from a nearby congregation.
“I have a lot of information about the people undermining and trying to eliminate me but I want to say they will not succeed as you can see I am still the usual Fr Luonde,” he said while laughing.
Bishop Chama when contacted refused to comment saying he had just arrived from abroad and that somebody else was handling the Chimwemwe issue.
But church warden, Sheba Malama said in an interview that the Chimwemwe congregation would remain closed until Bishop Chama personally goes to reopen and give them a new priest.
Ms Malama ruled out any option for reconciliation saying the church executive together with congregation members had made it clear that they did not want Fr Luonde around.
“If the Bishop who in this case is the only one to address this problem does not come, we will not have the church opened and if he is not willing to bring in a new priest, we have lay leaders who are capable of running the affairs of the church,” Ms Malama said.
On Sunday, confusion reigned at St Peters’ Anglican Church in Kitwe after irate congregants locked the church rising from differences with Fr Luonde who they also accused of inappropriate conduct in the congregation.
Sunday Service was blocked at the church as the building remained closed to the public.
Ndeloleshafye.
In between making babies, this is a busy priest
I think Nubian you are ready for maternity leave. Yesterday you where on RB, measuring his. Today you turn on Man-of-God. And don’t call him Priest, its misleading. He is Anglican, he is waived to celibacy.
PF strong hold
Why do these Anglican priest have Church wardens who are not married? What is the role of a Church warden. Iam told that the church wardens are appointed by the priest himself. Confirm this Anglicans. Two days before the confusion, there was a prayer meeting at this church. Ask father Luonde about his history. This is not his first time to be chased away from a congregation. He came from Chingola where he was chased away and the Chingola church is doing very fine now. Father the church does not want you ask your boss to transfer you to some other place. Br. Lameck you are a good Lay leader please take over the Church and take many to Christ.
This chap more earthly than most none church goers, I know him from Chingola!!!! These are the people Jesus referred to when he said you shall know them by their fruits!! moving him to another congregation will just tranfer the problem, the church should just strip him of his priesthood so that he can do as he wishes, womanizing and politicing!!!