Alarmist priest cautioned
By SIMON MUNTEMBA ANGLICAN priest, Father Richard Luonde is an alarmist who unfortunately has been practicing partisan politics in the name of fighting corruption and people should just ignore him, the government has charged.
And Chief Government spokesperson and Information Minister Kampamba Mulenga has challenged Fr Luonde who alleged that there was corruption in government to provide evidence to the investigative organs to help then investigate.
In an interview, Ms Mulenga said it was wrong for Fr Luonde whom she described as an “alarmist” to make baseless corruption allegations against government when he has not provided evidence of corruption.
Ms Mulenga was reacting to Fr Luonde’s remarks in one of the daily tabloids that corruption in Zambia was openly done.
Fr Luonde was quoted as saying, “corruption in Zambia is so open such that even unborn babies are aware of it.”
But Ms Mulenga said it was prudent for the priest to submit his facts of corruption to the AntiCorruption Commission (ACC) rather than being an alarmist with a hidden agenda.
She said Fr Luonde was not a whistleblower but an alarmist because he has failed to present the evidence of the corruption he claims is taking place in Zambia.
Ms Mulenga said President Edgar Lungu was championing the fight against corruption and if Fr Luonde has evidence, he should help by availing him with evidence.