Frank Bwalya

Father Frank Bwalya is a former Zambian Roman Catholic priest now working for the Patriotic Front[1] after the death of its founder Michael Sata. He was also the party leader of the Alliance for a Better Zambia (ABZ).[2]

He has held positions as chairperson for Broadcasting for the Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zambia for 2007–2008, and he worked for Radio Icengelo in 2007.[3] He has had a number of brushes with the law, after suggesting that the presidential election was fraudulent.[4][5] While on air, Bwalya described President Sata as a “chumbu mushololwa.” [2]He was arrested in March 2010 and charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace during a rally held to mark youth day in Kitwe north of the capital Lusaka.[6]

Bwalya flashed a card painted red when he joined the celebrations - which police said signified a call to remove the government. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.[7] In 2011, he played a role in Patriotic Front victory over the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in the 2011 general election.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Zambians call for release of cleric IOL
  2. ^ a b Gander, Kashmira (7 January 2014). "Zambian politician Frank Bwalya charged with defamation for calling President Sata a potato". The Independent.
  3. ^ "Zambian freed after on-air arrest". 2008-11-13. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  4. ^ Zambia: Kitwe’s Father Frank Bwalya to be formally charged Lusaka Times
  5. ^ Fr Frank Bwalya on Courage to speak The Zambian
  6. ^ Zambians demand priest's release News24
  7. ^ Zambian cleric freed after public rallies IOL
  8. ^ Clottey, Peter (9 June 2013). "Zambia Priest to Launch Political Party". VOA.
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