Group advises ruling UPND to reconcile with Catholic bishops instead of stoking discord

Movement for Promoting National Values and Principles says Catholic Bishops have not only suffered humiliation, ridicule but scandalised, demonised and rubbished.

The leader of the group, Joseck Kunda,said the Catholic Church being denounced by the United Party for National Development (UPND) today played a critical role in the release of President Hakainde Hichilema from Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility on charges of treason.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, Kunda reminded UPND that the three cited, Archishops Telesphore Mpundu, Alick Banda and Bishop Raymond Mpezele managed to persuade the government then to release Hichilema from prison.

“It is sad that the reaction of the UPND party is now bordering on slander, libel, malicious and defamation of the Catholic Church matters that are criminal in nature and attracts a lot of money in terms of damages when taken before Court,” he said.

Kunda said it was important to have a deep introspection of matters before uttering anything.

“Scriptures encourage us to be slow at speaking but fast at hearing. Instead of advising his party hierarchy to engage the Catholic Church in a professional and ethical manner, the Secretary General Mr Imenda Batuka acted hastily and refueled the tension.

“The SG”s remarks were not only contemptuous but provocative, irritating, demeaning and disrespectful. Our leaders must be more inclined to be peace makers and avoid any antagonisms, irrationalities and mute remarks that have potential to divide the Country,” he said.

Kunda said rather than wasting time justifying and proceeding with Court litigations, his organisation was calling upon the political party in government to immediately seek ways of reconciliation, mediation and arbitration of the impasse that they have caused themselves.

“We will critically observe the disposition and attitude of the Party in government as this matter will become a precedent on how best the UPND is capable of resolving differences. We will indeed use the differences ensured as a Litmus Paper for the government when it comes to resolving conflicts in an amicable ways,” he said.

Contributed by Julius Phiri

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