RELEASE THE 106TREASON CHARGED, DEMANDS 15CATHOLIC BISHOPS

IN ORDER TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AND NORMALIZE THE SITUATION IN WESTERN PROVINCE, 15 CATHOLIC BISHOPS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE ZAMBIA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE HAVE APPEALED TO PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA TO USE HIS PREROGATIVE TO RELEASE THOSE THAT ARE INCARCERATED IN PRISON OVER THE 1964 BAROTSE AGREEMENT FACING TREASON CHARGES

THIS ACCORDING TO A LETTER MADE AVAILABLE TO RADIO PHOENIX TODAY SIGNED BY HIS EMINENCE, MEDARDO CARDINAL JOSEPH MAZOMBWE RIGHT REVERAND GEORGE COSMAS ZUMAILE LUNGU BISHOP OF CHIPATA AND ZEC PRESIDENT AND RIGHT REVERENAD  IGNATIUS CHAMA BISHOP OF MPIKA AND ZEC VICE PRESIDENT,

AND THE OTHERS ARE MOST REVEREND TELESPHORE MPUNDU ARCHBISHOP OF LUSAKA, RIGHT REVEREND RAYMOND MPEZELE BISHOP OF LIVINGSTONE, RIGHT REVEREND PAUL DUFFY, OMI BISHOP OF MONGU, RIGHT REVEREND EMILIO PATRIARCH BISHOP OF MONZE, RIGHT REVEREND ALICK BANDA– BISHOP OF NDOLA AND RIGHT REVEREND CHARLES KASONDE BISHOP OF SOLWEZI AND OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE BISHOPS HAVE STRESSED THAT IN THE INTERIM, THE SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY MUST BE ACCORDED THEIR RIGHTS AS PROVIDED FOR IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND OTHER RELATED LEGISLATION

THE CLERGY MEN HAVE STATED THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THE DUTY OF GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER AND TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY BUT THIS DUTY SHOULD HOWEVER BE EXERCISED WITH DUE DILIGENCE

THE PRIESTS HAVE SAID THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND THE HEAVY PRESENCE OF ARMED POLICE IN MONGU BEFORE AND AFTER THE INCIDENTS OF 14^TH JANUARY AND THE CONCERNS INCLUDE THE USE OF LIVE BULLETS ON THE ACTUAL DAY WHICH RESULTED IN DEATHS AND GUNSHOT INJURIES.

THE ZEC OFFICIAL HAVE FURTHER EXPRESSED ITS CONCERNS TO THE HEAD OF STATE AND HOPES THAT SUCH EXTREME ACTIONS WILL NOT BE USED AGAIN TO MANAGE PUBLIC ORDER NOT ONLY IN WESTERN PROVINCE BUT IN ANY OTHER PART OF OUR COUNTRY ADDING THAT INSISTENCE ON NEGOTIATION AND DIALOGUE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE KEY FACTOR.

THE BISHOPS HAVE ALSO APPEALED TO THE ACTIVIST GROUPS, PARTICULARLY THE LINYUNGANDAMBO, BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT (BFM), MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF BAROTSELAND (MOREBA) AND BAROTSE PATRIOTIC FRONT (BPF) TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO PEACEFUL MEANS OF ADVOCATING FOR THEIR DEMANDS. 

THE BISHOPS HAVE STATED THAT THEIR RIGHT TO ORGANISE AND ASSOCIATE MUST BE PROTECTED BUT THIS ALSO ENTAILS ON THEM A DUTY TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS WHO MAY NOT BELONG TO THESE GROUPINGS OR MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT AT HAND.

THEY HAVE SAID THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO THIS MATTER MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO PEACE BY REFRAINING FROM VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION OR USE OF FORCE AS A MEANS OF ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES.

published by augustine m sichula