AFRICA/ZAMBIA - Missionary Bishop harassed by immigration authorities: Zambian Bishops’ Conference protests

Lusaka (Fides Service)- “We have noted with dismay the continued harassment and embarrassment of Rt. Rev. Paul Duffy OMI, the Bishop of Mongu by the Zambian immigration officials” the Catholic Bishops of Zambia said in a press release signed by the president of the Bishops’ Conference Bishop Telesphore G Mpundu. “Each time Bishop Duffy has spoken out on one or another topical issue affecting the nation, especially on the Constitution Review process, he has been subjected to unfair and rude treatment by Immigration officials at the International Airport when he returned to Zambia” the statement reads.
“Recently, however, the same immigration officials did not wait until Bishop left Zambia in order to harass him on his return. They did their work, obviously on orders from above, right in Mongu and demanded to see his papers,” the statement continues. “Bishop Duffy has spoken out on several occasions on behalf of Zambians, particularly the poor of Mongu Diocese and the Western Province, the poorest in the country. Though an American Missionary Oblate, Bishop Duffy has chosen to live and work among the people of the Western province and, God willing to die there. He holds a resident’s permit, which obviously the Immigration officials don’t have much regard for”.
“The Catholic Bishops in this country are interested only in the greatest and common good of this great nation and its citizens not in political power or their personal aggrandisement. In their search and service of the common good ZEC has co-operated and continues to cooperate with the Government of the day regardless of who is there. ZEC will also continue, whenever necessary, to raise our voices in defence of the voiceless and the poor as Bishop Duffy has done in the recent past” the statement reads.
“We challenge and urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to get to the bottom of this matter and bring to book the officers responsible for harassing Bishop Duffy as well as other officials who violate people’s rights with impunity”.
The Bishops express their opinion on Zambia’s constitutional review process: “we wish to see a Constitution that guarantees equality of all the Nation’s citizens regardless of their colour, race, creed or gender. We wish to see a Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion and worship that does not endorse only one faith and merely “tolerates” others. We want to see a Constitution that clearly separates the state from the Church or any religion but one that embraces all citizens and allows them the God- given right to pursue the values of their faith or religion whatever it is”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/10/2005 righe 37 parole 433)