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Speak against injustice, Fr Chanda challenges Bwalya’s successor

Speak against injustice, Fr Chanda challenges Bwalya’s successor
Written by Zumani Katasefa and Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:48:12 PM

NDOLA Catholic Diocese Vicar General Fr Raphael Chanda has challenged the new Radio Icengelo station manager Fr Wilbroad Mwape to continue speaking for the oppressed and against injustice in society. And Fr Chanda said the removal of Fr Bwalya has nothing to do with the MMD.

Meanwhile, Radio Icengelo employees who suspended operations on Tuesday in protest against Fr Frank Bwalya's removal from the station started work yesterday.

Addressing the workers who stormed the Catholic Diocese of Ndola to present their petition to Bishop Noel O'Regan over the move taken by the Catholic regional authority to remove Fr Bwalya from the station, Fr Chanda said it was a calling for every priest to speak against injustice and the oppressed in society.

He said whoever would take over from Fr Bwalya should continue speaking for the poor although he may not speak like Fr Bwalya.

He explained that the diocese started talking to Fr Bwalya almost a month ago over his activities until they saw "a political movement" as he had maintained his stance.

"The political movement was already there from the T-shirts, and not a political party, that was in fact a political wind," he said.

On the T-shirt he produced, Fr Bwalya had inscribed the words "Change or Die Zambia; New Liberation Struggle", words that unsettled particularly the MMD authorities who also started demanding the priest's removal from the community radio station.

And Fr Chanda urged Radio Icengelo workers to continue working with the same spirit and maintain the good name of the station.

"Whatever has happened has nothing to do with the MMD. It has nothing to do with Chibanda [MMD provincial youth chairman], in fact just yesterday [Monday] the Bishop was talking to Fr Bwalya to start a court case, then Fr Bwalya said he had already done his homework," he said.

Fr Chanda said the decision to remove Fr Bwalya was made after consultations with people who were concerned and that the diocese would issue a press statement to clear the air over what had happened.

Fr Chanda advised Fr Mwape to humble himself and learn from the workers about the operations of Radio Icengelo.

"If Radio Icengelo fails to tick, then we are all responsible. You are experts, you need to guide him," he said.

Fr Chanda said although Fr Bwalya would no longer work at Radio Icengelo, he had not taken people's brains.

He challenged the workers to continue working hard and ensure that money continued trickling into the station.

Fr Chanda said no one would jeopardise the operations of Radio Icengelo as the station had managed to remain popular because of the joint efforts from members of staff.

He urged the new station manager to be careful not to make new changes at the station and assured the workers of their job security.

"That is assured; nobody is going to be dismissed unless someone is indisciplined," he said.

Fr Chanda said the workers should now make the radio station stronger than ever before.

Meanwhile, workers at Radio Icengelo resumed normal operations.

The workers confirmed that they had resumed operations following the address by Fr Chanda.

However, the workers said they were also waiting to hear from Bishop O'Regan over their petition.

Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Kitwe district information officer Gerald Mutelo said the decision by Bishop O'Regan to remove Fr Bwalya from the community radio station was questionable as it appeared to have been made out of government pressure.

He said the late Bishop Dennis de Jong would not have buckled under the pressure of the ruling MMD.

Mutelo also appealed to the police to be professional in administering the public order Act.

He said all Zambians needed to be treated equally before the law and that the country would not be democratic if the rule of law was not respected.

Mutelo appealed to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the Human Rights Commission to help Zambians understand whether the law provided for notifying the police or seeking permission to hold public functions.

Fr Bwalya, an ardent critic of President Rupiah Banda's government, was recently removed from Radio Icengelo and redeployed to Kitwe's Ipusukilo Parish.

Labels: FRANK BWALYA, RADIO ICENGELO, RAPHAEL CHANDA, WILBROAD MWAPE

posted by MrK @ 1:49 PM