Catholic Priests of Mongu Diocese have also dismissed as total fabrication a report by the PF-aligned Post Newspapers that the Litunga told them that he is against secession, a day after the Kuta rubbished a propaganda article aimed at supporting President Michael Sata’s divide and rule tactics in the contentious Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
The Bartose Royal Establisment’s Kuta Council, which speaks on behalf of the Litunga, has already rubbished the story and has threatened to take measures against a State House sponsored journalist – Roy Habaalu – for being the author of the article.
According to a press statement issued late Saturday by Fr.James Connoly, the Vicar General of Mongu Diocese and Fr. Gregory Nyambe the chairperson priests’ Diocese, the priests said that the issue of secession was not even mentioned at the meeting.
During the meeting, said the priests, “we the Clergy gave spiritual support and assured the Litunga of our prayers for him and for all the people of his Kingdom.”
“Thus we would like to categorically state in no uncertain terms that at no stage during the meeting did the Kuta state that they are against the resolutions of the Barotse National Council-BNC.
“In this regard, the story carried by The Post News Paper dated 23rd November, 2012 under the headline I NEVER SUPORTED SECESSION-Litunga, is a total fabrication and misrepresentation of the correct senario..
The priests advised journalists at the Post newspaper that it’s important that they check their facts and present as factually as possible.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has issued a veiled criticism of President Michael Sata’s intention to damage the opposition and create unnecessary by-elections.
Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) general secretary Father Cleophas Lungu said there is need for a viable opposition to help in offering government check and balances.
Fr Lungu urged opposition members of parliament to resist President Sata’s attempt to sway them from their respective parties and strengthen the opposition in the country.
“Each party has a role to play and we need a strong opposition to give checks and balances to the government. To say everyone is welcome in the ruling party, we would like to take that with a pinch of salt. Opposition members should be true to their philosophy and political agenda,” he said.
He said people that elected members of parliament expected them to serve for the full five year term and not ending half way into the period they were given.
Recently, President Sata and his Patriotic Front (PF) leadership have been coercing opposition members of parliament to resign and re-contest their parliamentary seats under the PF ticket.
However, this has attracted a barrage of criticism from the opposition parties, civil society organisations, the church and ordinary citizens.