Nairobi, Kenya - he Catholic Church in Zambia says it is dismayed by the continued harassment and embarrassment of one of its bishops by Zambian immigration officials.
In a statement to CISA signed by the Most Rev Telesphore G Mpundu, President of the Zambian Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the Church said a pattern had emerged in the way government officials maltreated Rt. Rev. Paul Duffy OMI, the Bishop of Mongu.
"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."
Bishop Duffy had spoken out on several occasions on behalf of Zambians, particularly the poor of Mongu Diocese and the Western Province, the poorest in the country, the statement, dated October 26, 2005, said.
The Church said that the government seemed to have no regard for the fact that Bishop Duffy holds a resident's permit. "It is shameful that our government should treat this gallant missionary in such a cowardly and unseemly manner, so obviously intended to silence and intimidate him and the leadership of the Catholic Church in Zambia."
The Zambia's Catholic bishops, the Church said, were interested only in the common good of the country and its citizens and not in political power or their own personal aggrandizement.
"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."