Ndola, Zambia - GOVERNMENT has asked Zambia's High Commissioner to Britain, Anderson Chibwa who is also accredited to the Vatican to urgently seek clarification on the whereabouts of Roman Catholic Archbishop, Emmanuel Milingo who has been missing from his Zagarolo residence.
Chief Government spokesperson, Vernon Mwaanga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Archbishop Milingo was a Zambian citizen and as such Government had every reason to get concerned about his bizarre disappearance.
Mr Mwaanga who is also Information and Broadcasting Services minister hoped the Vatican's efforts to trace the whereabouts of the prelate would come to logical fruition.
"We have already contacted our High Commissioner in Britain, to seek urgent clarification with the Vatican on the whereabouts of Archbishop Milingo and I hope we shall get this information in the shortest time possible," Mr Mwaanga said.
Government shared the same concern with the Catholic Church in Zambia that had expressed concern through its spokesperson, Father Paul Samasumo on the cleric who had been missing for about two weeks.
It was not the first time that this was occurring and Mr Mwaanga said that was the reason why Government was concerned and wanted to know exactly where its citizen was.
"We have a consular duty to look after the interests of Zambians wherever they are.
"Archbishop Milingo is an important and respected citizen of Zambia and when he disappears in unexplained circumstances, there is every reason to get concerned," Mr Mwaanga said.
Archbishop Milingo disappeared from his Zagarolo residence on the outskirts of Rome in bizarre circumstances two weeks ago. The Vatican has since launched investigations into the disappearance of the clergyman.
At the weekend, Fr Samasumo said the Vatican was not sitting idle and would continue to inform people on the latest developments regarding the mercurial prelate's disappearance.
The Italian press ruled out the possibility of Archbishop Milingo re-uniting with his wife of three months, Maria Sung, saying the Korean acupuncturist had been traced and was not with him.
Catholic World News early last month reported Archbishop Milingo, the mercurial prelate who slipped from view since causing an international uproar in 2001, would perform in an Italian soul-music festival this month.
The 76-year-old prelate who has since made peace with the Catholic Church, was scheduled to sing tracks from a new cassette disc (CD) he has recorded in order to raise funds for a children's hospital in Zambia.
He was scheduled to go on stage on July 22 at the Porretta Soul Festival, an international event held every year near Bologna.