Embattled Radio Icengelo Station manager Fr Frank Bwalya has been fired from the Catholic-owned community radio station.

And Fr Bwalya has accused Government of master minding his removal from the radio station where he had been serving as Station manager in the last eight years.

Speaking live on Radio Icengelo yesterday morning, Fr Bwalya revealed that he received his expulsion letter from Ndola Diocese Bishop, Noel Oregon

Fr Bwalya has also asked Republican President, Rupiah Banda, to step down for allegedly failing to defend the Zambian Constitution.

Fr Bwalya alleged that the MMD approached and requested Bishop Oregan to silence him, but said he was glad that the Church had fired him for telling the truth and speaking for the poor and under privileged in society.

Meanwhile, Fr Bwalya accused Bishop Oregan of heeding to political calls and complaints from the ruling party to fire him from the station over anti-Government remarks he has been making on a bemba Radio Programme called “Uleta Pabwingi Tonaula.”

The Priest who started his address on air with the Zambia National Anthem, refused to give his full message on radio, saying he would only disclose the contents of his information to his followers and the Zambian people in the manner he wanted to and not dictated by the Police.

He added that while the MMD was celebrating his removal from Icengelo, he would stay quiet  for three days after which he would rise and fight all the injustices and evils in society.

Fr Bwalya said he would not go anywhere after the expulsion but would continue to serve as a volunteer worker at Icengelo Radio Station were he would be slashing grass, digging pits and clearing the gardens and flowers for free because that is where he belonged.

The Priest said he had been struck by his own people but will arise when the dust settles to ensure that a better Zambia was created in 2011.

He also disclosed that he has no intentions of forming a political party, but would use his organisation, the ‘New Liberation Struggle Change or Die Zambia’ to ensure that a new leader who loves the Zambian people genuinely was put into power in 2011.

Fr Bwalya alleged that President Banda has no genuine love for the Zambian people except for a few evil doers that he was glorifying in his Government, hence the need to vote for a new leader in 2011.

Father Bwalya said he would use his organisation to campaign for a certain leader who would scoop the 2011 Presidential elections.

Fr Bwalya said President Banda must be removed from Office for failing to grant him his constitutional right of freedom of association and assembly.

He said that President Banda had sworn to protect the constitution but the alleged failure to allow him to hold the rally calls for his resignation.

Fr Bwalya called on Government to cut the number of cabinet ministers and abolish the position of deputy ministers to ensure that funds saved from these positions could go to procure drugs and as bursaries to universities.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB

Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde, has appealed to Copperbelt residents to be careful with some members of the clergy and civil society using the effects of the global economic crisis to upset the peace currently prevailing in the Country.

Speaking in an Interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Kitwe today, Mr Kabonde said destroying peace had devastating consequences and very difficult.

Mr Kabonde said restoring peace after losing it is not easy, hence the need for the clergy and civil society to remain calm as the number of people losing jobs increased due to the credit crunch.

He said Zambians must be careful with people who were taking advantage of the credit crunch to fun trouble in the country, saying Zambia was not the only country whose companies closing were and citizens losing jobs due to the global economic crisis.

He disclosed that police had deployed over 4000 officers from Lusaka and round the Copperbelt to maintain law and order following the insistence by Radio Icengelo Station Manager, Fr Frank Bwalya, to go ahead with his rally which was canceled by police.

He said police were interested in trouble-makers because they were servants of the people employed to keep peace and ensure that it was maintained at all times.

Mr Kabonde said about 1,500 police officers from Lusaka were deployed to Kitwe while another 2,500 Copperbelt-based law enforcers were also deployed to ensure that the lives of innocent citizens were protected.

He, however, commended Fr Bwalya for changing his mind over his intentions to go ahead with the planned public rally in the spirit of peace and tranquility.

Mr Kabonde added that the police were happy that fr Bwalya preached peace to his followers and made his intentions for 2011 known to his supporters during his address which was aired on Radio Icengelo, but ssid law enforecers will continue being vigilant to ensure law and order prevail.

He, therefore, said some of the police officers that were deployed to Kitwe would be withdrawn because their was nothing peculiar in the message Fr Bwalya aired on Radio Icengelo.

The IG said the decision to cancel the rally was not because the police were compromised by government but that Zambia was a sovereign state with laws of the land which must be respected by all.

He noted that the press conference advertisements and campaigns which Fr Bwalya was running on Radio Icengelo were likely to cause a breach of peace, hence the decision by police to cancel his meeting.

He further said it has never happened in the history of Zambia for any member of the clergy or priest to hold a Public rally and admonish government over its policies as the church has always be known to preach unity and reconciliation in the land.

Mr Kabonde observed that the messages and preparations that were being made by Fr Bwalya prior to his intended public press briefing did not guarantee any peace and were in conflict with the current democratic tendencies.

He observed that the police were aware of the provisions of the constitution as regards freedom of expression and that there was need for people to take it cautiously.

The IG said there was need to have peace in order for freedom of expression to exist.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB

A civic leader in Lusaka has urged government to quickly implement the decentralization policy in order to spearhead development in the country.

Mulungushi ward 18 councilor, Daniel Chisenga, however, said government should first try to define and address the role of a councilor before it can implement the decentralization policy.

Mr Chisenga said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that government should define clearly the role of a councilor and recognize them to ease their work.

He said councilors should be respected and that government must always ensure that the local authorities around the country are adequately funded once the decentralization policy is in force.

The councilor added that there is need for the central government to assist councilors in rural areas with transport such as bicycles and motor cycles as they implement the decentralization policy.

Mr Chisenga also said that government should incorporate the grassroots in the policy decision as they know much about their locality.

He said involving the locals will also promote continuity and help stop the tension that exists between the locals, government and the investors.

ZANIS/ENDS/GP/EB

President Rupiah Banda has said that Radio Icengelo Manager, Father Frank Bwalya, was a free man to hold a public rally.

Mr Banda, who was responding to a question from a Radio Phoenix Journalist on arrival from Mongu, said government will not interfere with the holding of a public rally by Radio Icengelo Manager, Father Bwalya as he was a Zambian and a free man to a hold public rally.

The President was speaking today at the City Airport shortly after arrival from Mongu, Western Province, where he went to grace  this year’s Kuomboka Ceremony.

On Friday, the MMD Ndola district executive warned of bloodshed should Radio Icengelo station manager Fr Frank Bwalya go ahead with his press conference and public meeting in Kitwe.

Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda has described flooding in Western Province as terrible.

Mr Banda says government has since started devising mechanisms aimed at mitigating the negative impact brought about by flooding in the Western Province of the country.

Mr Banda said government was concerned with the suffering of the people in Western Province and that it was making serious plans to mitigate the impact of floods in the province.

Mr Banda assured his Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people that government is assessing the damage and effects of the floods that have affected over 483,000 people in many parts in Western Province.

President Banda said government will soon start sending supplies to the affected people, 9000 of whom have already benefited.

The President named the most affected districts as Kalabo, Shangombo, Lukulu and some parts of Mongu and Kaoma, where roads, homes, crops and animals have been damaged or destroyed.

And President Banda has described the Kuomboka ceremony as a master piece of oral and intangible cultural heritage for Zambians and the world at large.

The President further thanked the people of Western province for giving him and the MMD the winning votes during the 2008 by-election.

Speaking earlier the Ngambela expressed happiness that the Government and the Barotse Royal Establishment were working well together.

The Ngambela thanked the government for responding to the effects caused by the floods and for the developmental projects being implemented in Western Province, such as the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road.

ZANIS/ENDS/TK/EB