‘Mpundu should not drag Catholic Church into politics’

Telesphore Mpundu is being mischievous and trying to drag the Catholic Church into politics by demanding that Father Lastone Lupupa withdraws from pastoral over remarks he made last week, Christian Democratic Party president Danny Pule has said.

TELESPHORE Mpundu is being mischievous and trying to drag the Catholic Church into politics by demanding that Father Lastone Lupupa withdraws from pastoral over remarks he made last week, Christian Democratic Party president Danny Pule has said.

Dr Pule said the former Catholic Archbishop should just shut up and leave Fr Lupupa alone, as his statement was sober and not injurious.

He said it was high time Archbishop Mpundu came out clean and concentrated on supporting the UPND rather than tarnishing the image of the Catholic Church by dragging it into politics.

This follows an outburst by Archbishop Mpundu over Fr Lupupa’s statement that it was better to rig elections than to allow evil politicians into State House.

"Archbishop Mpundu is a spiritual man who ought to take such matters in a neutral manner.

Let him leave Fr Lupupa alone and avoid politicking in the church," he said.

Dr Pule said Archbishop Mpundu, as an elderly person in the ministry was supposed to call Fr Lupupa and sit him down if there was something wrong in his statement unlike talking to him through the media.

He called on Zambians to ignore Archbishop Mpundu and continue treating the Catholic Church with respect it deserved.

And Kitwe Pastors Fellowship chairperson, Raddy Lewila said withdrawing Fr Lupupa would only affect those that benefitted from his preaching.

Bishop Lewila said Fr Lupupa admitted his mistake that was why he withdrew it and apologised.

Bishop Lewila was however quick to mention that the church did not support the sentiments he expressed but that one ought to be forgiven once they apologised.

"What Father Lupupa did showed maturity and our role as a people in a Christian nation is to forgive him and not to withdraw him," he said.

THE mass development taking place in Southern Province is giving the opposition sleepless nights because they know that the people in region will vote for the Patriotic Front (PF), Southern province PF chairperson Lawrence Evans has said.

Mr Evans said the PF would record a landslide victory in Southern province following several developmental projects the Government was undertaking in the region.

He named the rehabilitation of the MazabukaKafue road, construction of Kazungula bridge and construction of several health posts as some of the major projects that has made the ruling party popular in the once opposition stronghold.

Mr Evans said apart from achieving a lot in infrastructure development, Government has improved the education and agriculture through mass funding to the two important sectors of the economy.

"Come election, we will be just pointing at what we have achieved since 2011 when the PF ascended to power. Our opponents have nothing to point at, so we are confident that this time around PF will win by a landslide," he said.

Mr Evans said the ruling party would continue working hard to ensure the lives of the people were improved as envisaged in party manifesto and the 7th National Development Plan.

He called in the people in the province to put aside regional politics and join the PF, a party with national character.