‘Telesphore Mpundu is a UPND cadre’

RETIRED Archbishop of Lusaka, Telesphore Mpundu, is simply a UPND cadre who does not care whether this country plunges into chaos as long as that will instigate regime change, Wright Musoma has charged.

Recently, the retired cleric charged that it was unacceptable for Zambians to be enduring poverty when the country was so rich in natural and human resources.

Archbishop Mpundu said Zambia had too many people who were hungry and starving yet the country had abundant natural and human resources.

But speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr Musoma, who is Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) president, said it was shameful that a person of Archbishop Bishop Mpundu’s calibre could sink so low to discredit Government for political aggrandisement.

He said it was unfortunate that each time Catholic cleric spoke, he was inciting Zambians to engage in violence instead of trying to bring peace among politicians.

“How can someone in his normal mind link poverty to the expected violence during the 2021 elections? He must stop this business of inciting violence in this nation and condemning the current leadership for everything just because he is UPND.

“It is shameful that he is talking about things which are not true. It is shameful that a man who has once held such a high portfolio in the church and society could be telling lies. This is could be the reason why he was dropped by the Pope because he realised that he was a danger to the church,” Mr. Musoma said.

He said the Archbishop must stop using poverty to agitate for violence because there were countries in the world that were poorer than Zambia but held peaceful elections without going for war.

“Why then must it be a different story in Zambia? We know he wants Hakainde Hichilema to win the 2021 elections and that is why he is inciting people to rise against Government. We expect him to preach peace and love an initiate reconciliation among politicians than worsening the situation,” he said.