In an impassioned and scathing open letter to President Hakainde Hichilema, the Catholic Church, through the Archdiocese of Lusaka, has denounced what it describes as “systemic abuse” of state authority after police forcibly cordoned off the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka. The incident, which occurred today during a memorial service for Zambia’s late Fifth President, Michael Chilufya Sata, has sparked public outrage and concern over what many see as a disturbing infringement on the right to worship in Zambia a nation that professes Christianity as its cornerstone.
Worshippers, gathering early for a requiem mass, were reportedly greeted by heavily armed police and anti-riot officers sealing off entrances to the cathedral, preventing them from entering the sacred grounds. Describing the scene as “shocking and dismaying,” the Archdiocese declared the presence of police in riot gear an “utterly unacceptable” act in a nation that prides itself on its Christian values.
“This act is an affront to the Church and a brazen display of intimidation. It violates our freedom to worship, a right that should be held inviolable in Zambia,” the letter states. The Church leaders highlighted that they had obtained proper permissions months prior for the service, intended to honor the memory of former President Sata. Nonetheless, access to the cathedral remained blocked, even as a similar government-led ceremony proceeded undisturbed at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
The Archdiocese rebuked the government’s “heavy-handed approach,” alleging a larger “coordinated scheme” against the Catholic Church, extending beyond today’s incident. They accused authorities of systematically violating human rights and turning police into “an extension of the UPND Party,” as arbitrary arrests and detentions of government critics become more commonplace.
The letter draws attention to Zambia’s founding Christian values, warning that the increasingly autocratic tendencies of this administration could erode the very fabric of the nation’s democracy. In a parting statement directed at President Hichilema, the Archdiocese invoked a solemn reminder from 19th-century historian Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This line, punctuating a plea for true leadership and accountability, underscores the Church’s unyielding commitment to defend the faith and the freedom of its people.
As the country and its leaders grapple with the reverberations of today’s events, the call from the Catholic Church to respect sacred spaces and democratic rights has resounded across Zambia and beyond.
Here is the letter from the catholic church
The world is messed up because of Politicians and Religion….Religion and Politics is a very bad combination
And how much tax payers money was wasted on Sata’ s memorial…how much did the government spend on Sata’s burial site….looks like Africans we love wasting our resources and we love begging at Same time
HOW MUCH FOR THE REGGAE CHAP
Who ever is incharge of this Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Lusaka, ………
The Vatican or who ever, needs to advise them to stay out of politics,……..
They are being used by the clique…….
They wanted the alternative memorial to be turned into a PF rally……..
They are failing to convince people on the streets, now it is easier to do so through religious shenanigans
Forwardee 2031….
Blind faith is a dangerous thing my friend
It is outrageous for any civilised govnt to suppress the spiritual life of its citizens!! President HH seems to have descended from patriot to despot at a very early stage in his guardianship of the democratic and human right of freedom of worship. He needs to remember that about 50% of Zambians are Roman Catholics, and they have long memories along with a deep faith!
How does this christian nation have so much hatred towards each other!?! Ukilisitu uliku? Pretend christians, ka?
@ Muntu and Spaka
Now you understand why i don’t belong to any religion….why i don’t belong to any Political organization….they’re all useless…making a big deal of someone who died 10 years ago…memorial this memorial that….why not use the money to feed street kids….and the church now has become a rubble rouser
Well Undeerstood and exact on point
Religion food for the poor and troubled
You are dealing with people that have no respect for human rights, no fear of God, and no respect for civility and human rights. Makes you wonder who they serve.
Those defending these barbaric actions, just know that as civil liberties are slowly eroded, it will soon catch up with you. It won’t be long before you are on the receiving end. Just ask PF.
It won’t happen. How do you handle/deal with a Catholic Church priest who accepts stolen vehicles, allows insults and threats to be made in his church???
Don’t align yourself with known criminals. Are you trying to convert them??? What message are you trying to convey???
Had my fellow cadres attacked them, they would asking why they didn’t have security.£’
If the said catholic is a pillar of Christianity. If should stay away from politics and help the nation fostering on peace.
But according to history, the Catholic has so many faces and it’s agenda is conflicted on peace agendas and wars. Am not surprised of it’s childish stunts with the PF clowns.
Knowing my country, we will see right thru yo lying and deceiving teeth. Just as we saw it in 2021.
Such nonsense PF thugs are promoting will not allow. Elders with no sense of direction.
Zambia has more religious freedom than any other country in Africa and for the catholic church to be writing such a letter is a travesty.
The catholic church is now a very compromised organisation and has no sense of objectivity.
These so-called men of god have sold their soul to Edgar Lungu and his vicious gang, they are now are now the foot soldiers of PF.
They police were absolutely correct in the action they took, because everyone knows that when Raphael Nakacinda tells his PF gang to show up in numbers, it is a call to arms and one to create mayhem and now the catholic church is now a facilitator of this. It is a great shame.
Their action should be commended and saved lives and property.
Unfortunately, HH and team think that they’ve the monopoly of wisdom and that because they have instruments of power then everyone must follow and obey them. This altercation with the Catholics wasn’t necessary if they had engaged others much earlier to explain their position and allow inputs from others. Instead of sending hordes of policemen to surround a place of worship, he should have taken time to check how the distribution of FISP is going. There’s so much despondency amongst farmers because their government keeps cheating. You’re digging up your own grave
Kaya mu Zambia namo, hh said day of prayers is rubbish, you wonder why vic falls is dried up, everything around upnd crumbles, look at chipolopolo, economy, majority pipo lament etc. & to upnd all is well & pipo love them…wickedness
Kaya mu Zambia namo, hh said day of prayers fyabupuba, you wonder why vic falls is dried up, everything around upnd crumbles, look at chipolopolo, economy, majority pipo balelila kunsala etc,
Katwishi mu Zambia namo, hh said day of prayers fyabupuba, you wonder why everything around upnd crumbles, chipolopolo balyaluka amakula, economy, majority abantu balelila kunsala etc,
Imwe fi LT
Tamwakwata umuchinshi tu upnd, hh atukanafye… ba police benu are used to put anyone down
Its been a police state since 64
get used to it
Where’s the Vatican to term this runaway bishop before he sets the country on fire?
Attacking the catholic church arising from yesterday’s event is like attacking the victim. Please allow people to worship or hold memorials freely wherever, when ever they want. We have a constitution that guarantees freedoms in which ever way. What is difficult?
It has nothing to do with the church or an archbishop. The constitution is very clear. Let people congregate when ever and where ever they want.
Ati PF, a party formed out of hatred, vengence and discrimination – ”Ndeteka nomba”, even in death causing confusion. Zambians are always peaceful influenced and manipulated by selfish individuals. The Lord reigns.
Now I wander what education people are having in our country not to unders that State Fuontions are held Not with Katolika, but with Anglican which is under His Majosity King Charls where our Government has come from.
This letter is not from the catholic church per se but from a well known PF cadre hiding as the archdiocese of Lusaka by the name of Alick Banda.
These are the Lungu cadres hiding under the Catholic robes . They are angry cos they no longer receive those brown envelopes from the stolen money Eddie Lungu used to hand them.