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Angry Worshippers Lock Out Fr Luonde
By ALEX NJOVU
HUNDREDS of worshippers at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Kitwe were yesterday stranded after some members locked the church to prevent priest-in-charge Father Richard Luonde from conducting the service.
Some congregants have accused Fr Luonde of infidelity and using church money to fund Fr Frank Bwalya’s political party.
The church, which has about 200 members, was locked with a huge padlock to prevent anyone from entering the building, which is still under construction.
Fr. Luonde
Fr Luonde confirmed in an interview that some church members had locked the church but vowed that he will not be removed from his position as priest-in-charge of the Chimwemwe congregation.
He described members who locked the church as cowards who are afraid of facing him to iron out perceived differences.
Fr Luonde, 54, said his preoccupation is to preach the word of God.
“These people have been accusing me of things which are not true. From issues of adultery, now they are saying I am using church funds to fund Fr Bwalya’s political party. These allegations are not true,” he said.
Fr Luonde also accused a named priest of being behind the confusion at St Peter’s Church.
“This is pure hatred, this is the work of my opponents. I don’t have energy for recreation, I am now looking after my grandchildren. I don’t have energy for sex,” Fr Luonde said.
He said the named priest is allegedly inciting some church members to rise against him.
“This is the work of few people, there is a priest who is behind all this. I was supposed to hold a press briefing tomorrow [today] to talk about all these things, but our Bishop, who is out in Uganda, has advised me to wait until he comes back.
“The people who are doing these things are cowards, they are supposed to face me instead of locking the church,” he said.
Fr Luonde expressed disappointment with the members who locked the church building.
“There is no need to do this, personally I believe in dialogue. If there are problems, people must talk as brothers and sisters, face each other instead of doing such things. They will not succeed because I will not be removed from the church,” Fr Luonde said.
And church spokesperson Cuthbert Chuza accused some members of causing confusion at the church.
“This is an inside job, we are disappointed because people came to worship just like any other Sunday, but only to find the church locked,” Mr Chuza said.
Church treasurer Burton Phiri said it is not true that Fr Luonde is using church money to fund Fr Bwalya’s political party.
Mr Phiri urged members who are against Fr Luonde to move out of the church instead of causing confusion.
Posted by Editor
on June 10, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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CNP-4U
June 10, 2013 at 9:20 am
retire kasnhi..if you are morally upright you pf cadre!!
truthful
June 10, 2013 at 9:39 am
so he knows that he needs strength to have sex! how does he know that?
stone
June 10, 2013 at 9:45 am
for once ba tumfeko mwalandako icishinka…
melanin man
June 10, 2013 at 9:55 am
foolish luonde can u resign.
zambian
June 10, 2013 at 10:42 am
Those chaps who locked the church are cowards indeed,they should learn to dialogue and protect the image of the church at all times,what have they gained by locking the church? nothing.
Wala
June 10, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Just where has the devil hidden people’s fear for the Lord our God? Whether this Priest is in the wrong or not! No one should bring such acts to the HOUSE OF THE LORD! It is Holy. It is a place set apart to meet with God,where people offer sacrifices to the Lord in form of prayer and gifts. Is there someone out there looking at things from this view? Every Sunday, God has an appointment with his children at his house, how can MERE Man go and lock out the children of God who want to meet their Creator in worship??? Ama rights yenu aya will land you in HELL. You should be courageous enough to discuss these issues away from the time set for prayer. May God forgive our disrespectful generation.
Lumbwe
June 10, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Gud ridance of this evil priest.
casim
June 10, 2013 at 2:08 pm
God will judge, we have no right to judge anyone…….
musonda
June 10, 2013 at 2:33 pm
DO NOT TOUCH MY ANOINTED ONE WHO HAPENNS TO BE FR.LUONDE LET GOD JUDGE HIM 4 HIS DID
seta
June 10, 2013 at 3:29 pm
this is ****** indeed, mwalaya nakuma church sure.
Best Dota inlaw of the year
June 11, 2013 at 5:01 pm
@CPN4U , U are cursing yourself, touch not the anointed, if he is immoral, God will sort him out and not you.