CATHOLIC PRIEST CONCERNED OVER PRESIDENT’ HICHILEMA’S ALLEGED MASKING OF CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES AS WORKING VISITS
CARITAS ZAMBIA CONCERNED OVER PRESIDENT’ HICHILEMA`S ALLEGED MASKING OF CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES AS WORKING VISITS
By Elesani Phiri
Caritas Zambia has expressed disappointment over President Hakainde Hichilema’s alleged masking of his campaign activities in various provinces as “working visits,” saying it fears the ruling party may be utilizing taxpayers’ money to facilitate these activities.
Speaking to Phoenix News in an interview, Caritas Zambia Executive Director Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga says such strategies create an unfair campaign environment for other political parties, particularly those in the opposition.
Fr. Mapulanga has also noted the Electoral Commission of Zambia –ECZ’s move to exempt President Hichilema from the official campaign schedule, explaining that this gives him the liberty to move around and campaign without regulation, further giving him an advantage ahead of the August polls.
Fr. Mapulanga has described as unfair the recent postponement of opposition parties’ rallies on the pretext that the President or the Vice President was scheduled to visit the same province on a working visit.
He has however acknowledged that the President is entitled to enjoy these constitutional provisions but says there is need to revisit such clauses and ensure that the Head of State has limited privileges, especially during the election period.
PHOENIX NEWS
Petty…as President and Candidate. He cant do both? Does the America President lose state machinery that is provided to ensure his safety and protection as State President?
Spliting hairs on issues that have no bearing and raised by the opposition and Priests now want to be their “bull horn” yet when HH was in the Opposition they were quiet.
What has changed? Just eaelier this week the Bishop in the Northern Province spoke about Priests will not and should not use the Pulpit to speak for candidates.
Is this not the same thing that is happening? Hypocracy….
YOU CATHOLICS SHOULD KEEP YOUR LANE
Ever heard of something called incumbency Fr. Mapulanga? That is it.
What the F*** is this…
Are you new in Zambia…
Very petty indeed and illiterate too of this Catholic Priest. The President would only cease to be Republican President after elections if he lost and handed over power. So, it is correct to call it working visits even if it is holding a rally. These PF Catholic Bishops are like cadres.
Let’s not behave the pharisees quoted in the bible. And let us not greatest hypocrites of the season. Note that all past presidents, including ECL, during this similar elections campaign periods they made relatively same visits. As for ECL, it was even worse because his vists were during the COVID-19 restrictions period, but no one from…….. Complained or commented negatively. Why this
discriminatory. Is it because HH is just naturally and religiously hated by some sections of this society
These are Hilux ‘bishops’. Damaged by PF brown envelopes.
I do believe the Priest has his own to say and as a Zambian citizen he is entitled to his opinion. However, the comments said by most show a striking uniformity on the status quo of the matter on ground. My own is to recommend to the clergy to be more understanding of the Presidency and what it entails within the context of Governance even during the time of elections. Let us not use personal conviction to override jurisdiction, it mars our conclusions and paints a biased narrative even when we might have meant well.
