LUSAKA – Catholic Priest Father Moses Gladson Phiri has launched a blistering attack on the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, accusing him of failing to perform his duties following the recent arrest of Lusaka Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda Speaking during a live broadcast on Christian Nation FM, on the popular program Sunday […]

LUSAKA – Catholic Priest Father Moses Gladson Phiri has launched a blistering attack on the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, accusing him of failing to perform his duties following the recent arrest of Lusaka Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda

Speaking during a live broadcast on Christian Nation FM, on the popular program Sunday Chat hosted by Frank Augustine Chakanga, Father Phiri openly condemned the diplomatic representative of the Holy See.

The outspoken clergyman declared that Archbishop Gian Luca Perici has “betrayed” Dr. Alick Banda by neglecting to offer the necessary diplomatic or ecclesiastical defense for the embattled Lusaka Archbishop.

Father Phiri argued that the Vatican Ambassador’s silence and apparent inaction amid the state’s targeting of senior Catholic leadership amounted to a abandonment of his primary pastoral and diplomatic obligations in the country.

The comments follow the high-profile arrest of Archbishop Alick Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). Dr. Banda was taken into custody on charges of possessing property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, specifically relating to a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle. While government officials maintain that the investigation is strictly a legal matter involving an individual, local Catholic clergy and opposition figures have vehemently denounced the arrest as an act of state-sponsored political persecution.

Fr. Phiri’s public remarks highlight growing friction within the Catholic Church regarding the Apostolic Nuncio’s neutral stance. Critics argue that the ambassador should have robustly scrutinized the state’s allegations against Dr. Banda rather than allowing the public prosecution of a top prelate to proceed unchecked.

The Vatican Embassy in Lusaka has yet to issue a formal response to the brewing clerical rebellion.