CHIPATA Diocese Bishop George Lungu has said the Church will not rest until justice prevails over the deportation of Lundazi Catholic Parish Priest father Viateur Banyangadora.Speaking during a homily to cerebrate the 75th Anniversary of Chipata Diocese held at St Anne Cathedral in Chipata yesterday, Bishop Lungu reiterated that the Church would not rest until the Government revokes the deportation of its clergy for the sake of unity.
The prelate who did not want to dwell much on the deportation of Fr Banyangadora alleging that the issue was “still hot” only reminded the Catholic faithful during the celebrations that the church would not rest until justice prevailed on the matter.
“I would like to inform you that the Church will not rest until justice prevails on the deportation of Fr Banyangadora for the sake of unity. I do not want to dwell much on this issue because it is still a “hot issue”, but I can assure you that the church will not rest until justice prevail on the matter,” he said.
Last month, a combined team of security wings apprehended Fr Banyangadora, 40, a priest of Rwandanese origin from his residence in connection with the sermon he delivered in church during a homily which was allegedly seen to have been in the spirit of inciting people to rise against the Government.
The clergyman was later transferred to Lusaka for further interrogations before being deported.
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu announced few days later that Fr Banyangadora, who was a holder of employment Permit No 008955, was deported to Rwanda because he was found to be a danger to the peace and good order, contrary to Section 39(2) of the immigration and Deportation Act No 18 of 2010.
Bishop Lungu said the Government violated human and constitutional rights of their priest despite him being in possession of a Rwandanse passport.
Meanwhile, Bishop Lungu has said the Catholic Church is saddened with reports that some Catholic pupils in other mission schools were being mistreated.
“The Church is disturbed with some reports that some catholic pupils in other mission schools were being mistreated by school authorities. We hear that sometimes rosaries are confiscated from these pupils by school authorities without any proper explanation,” he said.
Bishop Lungu said the other mission school authorities should tolerate other religions in their mission schools just like the Catholic tolerated non-Catholic pupils learning in Catholic schools.