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Radio Icengelo workers protest Bwalya’s removal

Radio Icengelo workers protest Bwalya’s removal
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 3:29:50 AM

RADIO Icengelo staff yesterday resolved to suspend operations in protest against Ndola Diocese Bishop Noel O’Regan’s decision to remove Fr Frank Bwalya as station manager.

In an interview, some Radio Icengelo employees who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were not happy with the decision taken against Fr Bwalya, who they said had done a lot to build the station to its current position.

"We are not happy with the decision taken by the Bishop against Fr Bwalya. Why has the Bishop decided to bow down to the pressure of government?" one of the workers asked.

The source said operations had been suspended at the institution except for the technical and accounts departments.

"And announcers would be allowed to operate but not at full capacity," the source said.

Radio Icengelo has departments such as news and current affairs, production and programmes and marketing, among others. The workers resolved to seek audience with Bishop O'Regan on the matter.

"Whoever is going to replace Fr Bwalya would start from zero, and this to us is like moving backwards," the workers complained.

And some Catholic parishioners on the Copperbelt Province said they were disappointed with the move taken by Bishop O’Regan. One of the parishioners from the Ugandan Martyrs Parish in Luanshya, Nathan Chanda said it was sad that the Bishop had decided to remove Fr Bwalya from Radio Icengelo.

"Fr Bwalya had been speaking for the poor, and the voiceless people, he has been the voice of the unemployed people here on the Copperbelt. Why has the Bishop decided to take that root against Fr Bwalya?" Chanda asked.

Another parishioner from Sacred Heart Parish in Luanshya, Bwalya Mulenga said people were bitter with what Bishop O'Regan had done.

"This man Fr Bwalya has been speaking for everyone. He spoke for the poor in our society, what the Bishop has done will make us stop contributing Seminary Funds," Mulenga said. "This Bishop must go back to Solwezi Diocese where he came from, let Bishop Banda come back here."

Musonda Musonda of St Charles Parish in Luanshya said the removal of Fr Bwalya from Radio Icengelo was a blow to the poor people in the Copperbelt Province.

Musonda wondered why Bishop O'Regan had decided to side with the MMD cadres at the expense of the poor majority Zambians.

"Hasn't he seen how the people of the Copperbelt Province have been subjected to hardships? Fr Bwalya has been our voice, here people have lost jobs. Why is he [Bishop] being intimidated?" complained Musonda.

Radio Icengelo, a Roman Catholic Church-owned station, enjoys popular listenership on the Copperbelt Province for its pro-poor stance.

Fr Bwalya announced on Monday that Bishop O'Regan had redeployed him from Radio Icengelo to Kitwe's Ipusukilo Parish.

Recently, sources told The Post that MMD and government officials were plotting to pay women clad in Catholic Women Organisation chitenge materials to demand the removal of Fr Bwalya from the radio station at the press briefing he was to hold on Monday at Buchi Hall in Kitwe.

The sources further disclosed that Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde and Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima met Bishop O'Regan, to among other issues, draw to his attention the security fears that they felt Fr Bwalya's activities were fuelling on the Copperbelt.

Thereafter, the MMD called for Fr Bwalya's removal from Radio Icengelo and claimed that his messages were dividing the Catholic faith.

Fr Bwalya has been an ardent critic of the Rupiah Banda administration, branding it as corrupt. Fr Bwalya was in November last year arrested and detained overnight for suggesting that the 2008 by-election was not free and fair.

Labels: FRANK BWALYA, RADIO ICENGELO

posted by MrK @ 2:30 AM