Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA<\/p>\n
Following the recent arrest of the Archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia, Most Rev. Alick Banda, the Eastern Africa Bishops called for the legal process to be “fair, transparent, free from political considerations and respectful of the dignity of the person and of his sacred office.”<\/p>\n
In a letter of solidarity dated Thursday, October 1, and addressed to the President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama Archdiocese, the Chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga of Mbeya, Tanzania, also prayed that Archbishop Banda, “like every citizen, be accorded the presumption of innocence,” and that the facts set out by the Zambian bishops “be given their full weight.”<\/p>\n
In an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, September 30, the Zambian bishops had appealed to all citizens and people of good will for “a renewed commitment to the dignity of every human person,\u201d declaring that “no political interest, party loyalty, ethnic identity or exercise of power can justify the violation of human dignity or the taking of innocent life.”<\/p>\n
“Our solidarity does not place any person above the law, nor does it prejudge a matter that is now before the courts,” Archbishop Nyaisonga clarified on behalf of the AMECEA bishops in the Thursday statement.<\/p>\n
He said the Bishops from the Eastern Africa region received with deep concern the news of Archbishop Banda’s arrest on September 28, and that AMECEA “cannot be silent or indifferent when a brother Bishop is arrested, whatever the reasons advanced,” citing St. Paul’s words: “if one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26).<\/p>\n
Referring to the ZCCB\u2019s Wednesday communiqu\u00e9, the AMECEA Chairman noted the Zambian bishops’ explanation that the State does not accuse Archbishop Banda of any involvement in the disposal of the State vehicle in question, which had been given to him as a gift and was surrendered back to the State in December 2023.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the bishops, the Tanzanian Prelate associated AMECEA fully with the ZCCB’s solidarity with Archbishop Banda, its respect for his pastoral ministry, and its call for fairness, dignity and due process.<\/p>\n
“Be assured that the whole AMECEA region is following with keen interest what is happening in Zambia,” he wrote, adding that dioceses and the faithful across the region were accompanying the Zambian bishops, Archbishop Banda and the Archdiocese of Lusaka with prayers.<\/p>\n
Recalling the commitment made at AMECEA’s 21st Plenary Assembly in July to build “bridges of communion, hope, justice and good governance,” the Chairman encouraged the ZCCB and all the faithful of Zambia “to remain steadfast, calm and prayerful,” and to continue to be “the salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Mt 5:13\u201314).<\/p>\n
He entrusted Archbishop Banda, the Church and the people of Zambia to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the protection of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.<\/p>\n
The letter was copied to Archbishop Banda and to the Presidents of AMECEA Member Episcopal Conferences.<\/p>\n
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