Catholic priests codemns Kalesha insult
By Thandizo Banda
CATHOLIC priests have vowed not to be intimidated by verbal attacks from United Party for National Development (UPND) sponsored individuals for defending the Constitution from being amended against the will of the people.
President of the Local Catholic Clergy in Zambia Reverend Father Augustine Mwewa condemned insults on priests and bishops made by UPND cadre Victor Kalesha at State House during a meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema on constitutional amendment.
Kalesha, who claimed to be a bishop in an unknown church, said Catholics priests should not comment on the constitutional amendment issue because they did not have children.
But Fr Mwewa, of Holy Family Lulamba Parish in Chingola under the Archdiocese of Ndola, said Kalesha’s comment amounts to hate speech and abuse of Catholic priests.
Speaking to Radio Icengelo News, he said priests had a moral obligation and the right to comment on governance issues.
“I pity Mr Kalesha. So he is saying all the youths, men and women without children should not speak out? Where does he want to take our prophetic role and human rights? So now in Zambia if you have no child you hold no right to speak for the people?” Fr Mwewa wondered.
He urged Hichilema to denounce Kalesha’s remarks because they were uttered in his presence at State House on Monday.
“The President should stand up and denounce remarks by Kalesha. And the President the other day was saying he is ready for dialogue. Is that dialogue we are seeing? Such people [as Kalesha] must be arrested for hate speech. It is sad that we are being insulted for speaking the truth,” Fr. Mwewa said.
Kalesha has come under heavy fire on social media and in mainstream media for saying Catholic priests should not talk about the constitutional amendment process because they did not have children and could therefore not speak for Zambians.
Neither Hichilema nor State House has commented on the attack.
