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Finally, Fr Bwalya is Back – Not so fast
Am I the only person who wondered what had happened to Fr. Bwalya after September 2011? Honestly, I want to know where he went when PF controlled Police attacked opposition cadres and their leaders. Where was he when Kabimba intimidated the Anti-Corruption Commission? How about when his fellow Roman Catholicpriest was arrested and deported for standing up for the rights of farmers?
Fr. Bwalya’s aspirations for public office are commendable. After all, he has the democratic right to doso. But, I wonder whether he has the right to lie to Zambians. Bwalya is no johnny-come-lately to Zambianpolitics; so for him to pretend to see PF wrongs now is disingenuous.
I understand that it demands moral courage to withstand the temptations of power and money – you can ask Pastor Nevers Mumba. Seriously, if Bwalya could not tell that the PF government had lost direction until this week, I doubt his sanity.
I have consistently questioned PF’s misuse of power.
Some people say that I am bitter and rightly so. I am bitter that our nation is slowly becoming like Zimbabwe. The selective application of the law, the arrest ofcitizens for expressing their views on governance and the arrogance of PF cadre-ministers demand prophetic rage.
I am reminded of the words of the Jewish-Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza: “The most tyrannical of governments are those which make crimes of opinions, for everyone has an inalienable right to his thoughts.” These words aptly define what the PF government has become – a dictatorship.
No day passes without hearing about a politically motivated arrest or persecution. Ironically, only members of the opposition are arrested.. Our police, courts, and Anti-Corruption commission are now instruments of oppression – making vicious dictators like Robert Mugabe angels! As long as they kiss Sata’s boots, criminals are left to roam our streets in cars bought with our tax Kwachas.
Surely Fr. Bwalya should know that we, the church leaders are Christ’s voice for the oppressed. As for politicians, they will always be politicians – always looking to the next election. If that means lying or pitting tribes against each other, they will do so – after all, politics is a game of divide and rule.
That is why I personally cherished Bwalya’s role during the MMD era; he was a resilient prophet, always speaking the truth to power. But then he disappeared and only returned to head the board of ZESCO. Had Bwalya maintained hisintegrity, he would have remained the most crucial and influential voice in Zambia – always reminding politicians of what God demands – mercy, justice and righteousness.
Bwalya should have known that politicians are not the messiahs but sinful individuals – Chiluba, Mwanawasa, Banda and Sata. As a moral voice, Bwalya should have maintained his prophetic stance rather than sacrificing it to PF. From now on, PF will invalidate his voice as that of a bitter failed politician.
Here is my word of caution to my fellow religious leaders. If your goal is to become a politician, betransparent about it. Don’t use the Church to launch your political career. Zambia needs religious leaders with integrity – willing to stand on the side of the oppressed.
We, the religious voices are the ones who carry the burden of watching the poor die from poverty and curable diseases; and the frustrations of families that are denied justice because of their social and economic status. Sadly, Fr. Bwalya dumped this royal calling for Sata’s PF.
That said, I want to clear one issue – the poaching of opposition MPs.
While many of us want PF to stop poaching MPs to ensure multi-party democracy in the nation, I bet to differ. Political science 101 is simple; exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses is key to winning an election in multi-party politics. PF has found a working strategy – divide and rule. PF knows that it can’t compete on the policies, so dividing the opposition is key to winning the 2016 elections.
It is a fallacy for opposition leaders to expect PF to look after their interests. Each time the opposition fights itself, it is Christmas to PF.
We all know that since 1991, our MPs have behaved like street prostitutes – always selling themselves to the highest bidder. So it is up to the opposition parties to find a counter strategy. Until MMD and UPND MPs reject PF pecuniary advances – PF will ensure its hold on power.
I also disagree with those who feel that MPs can’t switch political parties. Unless we reject the fundamental right to free association, barring lawmakers to switch sides is trumping on their fundamental rights. While the issue of by-elections is costly, we should be careful not to sacrifice our fundamental rights on thepremise of economics.
It is for this reason that I congratulate Bwalya’s ambitions for political office. Good luck my brother with your new party and yellow card campaign – I bet Zambians have short memories.
Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
Posted by Kunda
on May 6, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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kcc
May 6, 2013 at 8:54 am
boring
harrison
May 6, 2013 at 9:03 am
please allow me to ask. what is wrong with a church leader aspiring for political office in a Christian nation?
Is being a Christian leader a disqualification for political office?
Kan
May 6, 2013 at 5:21 pm
The authority of Jesus Christ is above politics. Political offices are subordinate to the church and not the other way round.
The Equalizer
May 7, 2013 at 3:30 am
Personally I see nothing wrong. Politics are a system of governing human social affairs. It is a different seperate task from winning souls. One can still win souls and participate in governance, i.e to ensure that the population is getting its fair share of the church. I do not see how this contradicts the so-called higher authority of Jesus. I may not agree with everything in this article, but I appreciate the authors attempt to be balanced. I agree that stopping people from switching parties tramples on their rights. Costly as it is to have by-elections, either change the constitution or let the opposition be more strategic. Firing MPs for accepting government appointments, for example, is another side to this coin which opposition leaders are responsible for. As for clergymen joining politics, its their right. We live in a democracy, not a christian theocracy.
The Equalizer
May 7, 2013 at 3:31 am
I meant fair share of the cake..^^^
isaac
May 6, 2013 at 9:12 am
The worry is his sanity on some of policies. The man is only driven by his high ambitions of being president.If you follow him critically i bet you will lost together with him.
kwanja
May 6, 2013 at 10:12 am
IDIOTS SALUTED BWALYA WHY CONDEMN HIM NOW.
tim
May 6, 2013 at 10:20 am
To hell with satan bwalyawowowo, a dog!
Faith
May 6, 2013 at 11:46 am
It is amazing that father bwalya has come baxk,im sure if he was given the ministrial post he wanted he would have been quiet.He expected so much from the presdo anyway we wish him the best.
Pyepye
May 6, 2013 at 11:53 am
worry about fuel price not Bwalya
kakolwe
May 6, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Dr. Rev. Canon. Am glad to totally agree with you in this analysis of yours. Surely if father Bwalya was given a cabinet position, he would have remained deathly quiate. Let him yellow card hisself
kapandula
May 6, 2013 at 2:29 pm
i hope fr bwalya will remind pafwaka about the escarletng prices of mealie meal, fuel etc
mbashe
May 6, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Tapali eko aleya, this is a different system altogether.
Dimma
May 6, 2013 at 6:16 pm
You doubt Bwalya’s sanity, and then you congratulate him… am confused, Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma. I beginning to doubt you as well… and where were you yourself??!!!
Dimma
May 6, 2013 at 6:22 pm
With just porridge, I know one can sell his birth right. But as Zambians we need someone to speak for us. If he wanted the presidency, like Mumba is, it is too late. Let them come together as a group and choose a completely different person to usher for presidency.
I’m available should they be wondering…
Rev kapya kaoma
May 6, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Dimma
What do you understand by the last statement -”I bet Zambians have short memories.”
FuManchu
May 6, 2013 at 8:25 pm
I like the part on MP’s behavior and advice to the opposition parties to find a counter strategy. It all goes into the recruitment process when identifying the flag bearers for the party
stega
May 6, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Tell me something is fr bwalya going to marry before standing as a president or what is he trying to do?
kampy
May 7, 2013 at 12:21 am
let him join hh and see wat they can do 2gether
hope
May 7, 2013 at 12:22 am
viva bwalya
kakolwe
May 7, 2013 at 4:35 am
@stega, worry not. If Frank Bwalya went to plot 1, he would choose a ceremonial 1st SISTER from one catholic convents.
Mercy Simwaba
May 7, 2013 at 9:56 am
When i read all the comments about Father Bwalya, and other politicians, i welcome the idea of a write called Brainiac in which he put foward the idea of technocrats such as Chipimo, Mutatati, Dr. Victor Mudenda, Dr.B.M.Kapika, Dr. Anthony Kawesha..All intellctuals with medical grounds and great achievements abroad. They are all non-partisans and can help our country out presents sufferings and corruption. Look at Italy, after all the scandals,Italy is now being served by technocrats.
Mercy Simwaba
Mercy Simwaba
May 7, 2013 at 10:01 am
In short lets seriously think of forming a government under the leadership of technocratics.
henry
May 7, 2013 at 10:18 am
Sad for fr Bwalya negative thinking about Micheal the guy bwalya is very selfish & luck of respect 4 we zambian. Satan is using this man so let be careful of this viper even in the time of adam its was their to destroy human kinds. that is fr bwalya viper