Ndola Catholics Wonder if They Are Safe After Police Disrupt Mass
The Catholic community in Zambia is left shaken and concerned about their safety after a heavy police presence caused chaos and disruption during a church service in Ndola’s Divine Mercy Parish. The incident has sparked fears among the faithful, who are now questioning whether they can freely practice their religion without the fear of interference.
The police who were heavily patrolling the church, stormed the Church on the pretext that opposition party president Harry Kalaba, a member of the United Kwacha Alliance associated with former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was in attendance at the 10:00 am Bemba Mass. However, this turned out to be a false alarm, leaving the two priests present, Father Temani Chikosi, Ignasious Malwa, and the parishioners in a state of confusion and fear.
During the disruption, one congregant, identified as Peter Kamwale, was arrested for mistakenly taking pictures of the heavy police presence around the church. The police confiscated the phones of any congregants who dared to capture the scene, further heightening the sense of unease among the worshippers.
The situation has left the Catholic community in Zambia wondering if they are truly safe to practice their faith without the threat of police intervention. As the country grapples with political tensions, the incident at the Divine Mercy Parish in Hillcrest has raised concerns about the fundamental right to freedom of religion and the ability of citizens to gather peacefully without fear of repercussions.
The involvement of Harry Kalaba, a member of the United Kwacha Alliance associated with former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has added an additional layer of complexity to the situation. Lungu, who is seemingly a thorn in the flesh of the current President Hakainde Hichilema, has been a central figure in the ongoing political dynamics in Zambia.
The Catholic Church and its faithful in Zambia are now left to navigate this delicate situation, hoping that their right to worship without interference will be protected and that they can continue to practice their faith in a safe and secure environment.
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President Lungu is in Ndola maybe the police thought he was supposed to be at Divine Mercy Parish, and this is why we called President Lungu the Sly Fox
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