Father Bwalya is free to practice active politics, says Ndola Diocese Bishop

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Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya blows a whistle against the government's refusal to release the Zambian draft constitution
Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya blows a whistle against the government’s refusal to release the Zambian draft constitution

THE Catholic Church has said Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) president Frank Bwalya is free to practice active politics since he is on an indefinite leave from the church.

Ndola Diocese Bishop Alick Banda said Father Bwalya applied for indefinite leave in 2011 which was granted to him and that he is therefore free to engage in active politics.

“If you remember, Fr Bwalya applied for indefinite leave sometime in June 2011. Whatever he does in the political arena he does not do on behalf of Ndola diocese or the Catholic Church,” he said.

The Bishop who is also the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) vice president said it was up to Fr Bwalya to apply to Rome if he wanted to drop the title of Father altogether if he so wishes.

In 2011, Fr Bwalya who was station manager at Radio Ichengelo applied for indefinite leave to start his Red Card campaign which at the time was not a political movement.

After the PF won the elections in September 2011, the clergyman was appointed board chairperson for ZESCO before he resigned to form ABZ.

Bishop Banda who was speaking at Kapingila House during a press conference for Catholic Bishops also defended the clergy for their continued controversial homilies that have in the past riled Government.

He gave an example of Lundazi Priest, Father Viateur Banyangandora who was deported to his native Rwanda for hard-hitting strong messages during homily which did not sit well with authorities.

“Luckily the deportation of the priest was revoked after wide consultations. But there are still some acts of intimidation which I think should be stopped. Our priests are still getting strange phone calls every so often,” the Bishop said.

ZEC president Ignatius Chama who is also Archbishop of Kasama said the clergy always gave their views on the state of the nation with great humility and deep concern for the people of Zambia.

Archbishop Chama said the clergy meant well and prayed for Zambia to be a successful democracy and for a successful resolution of many unresolved issues that were highlighted in the state of the nation address.

He also repelled assertions that the Catholic Church had become silent on silent issues because President Michael Sata was a member of the church.

13 COMMENTS

    • Bwalya Father, go baptize some kids or something! You don’t have any political future. You and Chipimo together.

    • Wechipuba! get to understand the sentiment aired by the bishop. Don’t just yada! The problem with you is that you are so ignorant and take the word “LEAVE” literally.

    • Don’t be surprised when you hear that capa mimba. He’s experienced unrestricted life outside monasteries and he’s found out that its good, hes not going back thats for sure.

    • Ignorance is a far more dangerous thing than stupidity. Sc, if you do not know anything about something, either you ask so that you can be guided, or you shut up. Otherwise you run the risk of exposing your ignorance for the whole world to see.

  2. Fr. Frank Bwalya is sick in the head hence no one will ever take him to serious with what ever he says, I personally doubt our priest if for sure they are servants of the Most High God. The cancer of insults from Frank Bwalya leaves a lot for the Catholic Church, let us not stray from the proper path which has been marked out for us by our Lord Jesus Christ and our founding Fathers, the path of respect and love.

  3. Now that the Very Reverend Bishop Dr. Alick Banda of Ndola Diocese has repeated to allow ‘Fr.’ Frank Bwalya to even continue using or is it misusing his clerical official title until he gets laisiced (sp) allowed by Rome to cease using his clerical official title, we the ordinary people/ Catholic christians (laity) we abide with the Bishop’s guidance, but still pray that “Mr.” Bwalya who has proudly abandoned the flock, should not manipulate the church to get political mileage. He should not blindly take the Catholic vote for granted. We wish him well, till 2016 when we express our feelings about him through the ballot!

  4. MMD cannot be underrated, and M’membe should not think he is the person who will always shape people’s opinions.

    Actually talking corruption, PF is displaying more corruption now than even what was in the MMD. So come 2016 people will revaluate MMD against PF performance, and many people will be amazed. Zambians will be better analysts in 2016 than they were in 2011 – mark my words.

    MMD will surely prove a force by 2016.
    Remember that KK gained more respect towards the end of MMD’s rule than he had at the start of MMD’s rule in 1991. What brought this scenario is reflection and revaluation.

    It will be wrong to see things only in the light of yesterday and today. we must also allow our brain to see in the context of tomorrow and beyond in relation to yesterday and today

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