The State Police Officers’ action, the Catholic Church leaders say, was also “a serious invasion of the Bishop's privacy which was unwarranted in any way”.
“The Church in general and shepherds of souls, in particular, have the right, duty and liberty to welcome and listen to every human person, without any form of discrimination,” they say in the statement that their president, Archbishop Ignatius Chama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kasama, signed.
Going beyond Christian values, ZCCB members note, “it is normal for people with all sorts of physical, spiritual, material, and psychological challenges to seek solace in the Church.”
They go on to condemn “every form of intimidation and violation of privacy against the prelates of the Church, their premises and that of innocent citizens in the course of the Church doing what is its mission and service.”
“It should also be reminded that despite being a public institution, the Church is in a diplomatic relationship with the State,” Zambia’s Catholic Bishops say, adding that they would wish “to see the Church's premises and its ministers respected and their rightful dignity and autonomy upheld.”
Members of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) have also condemned the disruption of the courtesy meeting between Bishop Mulenga and the immediate former President of Zambia as “a serious affront to democratic principles”.
“Zambia is a democratic nation where all citizens, including former presidents, have the right to freedom of movement and association,” CCZ member say in their statement dated Tuesday, May 21 in which they call upon security agents in the Southern African nation to maintain law and order professionally and impartially.
Freedom of movement and association right, the representatives of Christian leaders in Zambia say, “are enshrined in the Constitution and must be respected by all state agencies and the general citizenry.”
They appeal to President Hichilema-led government “to ensure that the rights and freedoms of citizens are protected, and any actions that threaten these principles must be addressed promptly and decisively.”
Meanwhile, in a counter-statement published on May 17, Zambia’s police denied claims that Bishop Mulenga’s residence was raided.
