Shakafuswa links Zambia’s troubles to Father Lupupa’s rigging sermon

6 ViewsFormer Deputy Finance Minister Jonas Shakafuswa says Zambia’s current political troubles started with tribalism, and cited a sermon by a Catholic Priest calling for elections to be rigged to block a particular tribe from power. Writing on his social media handle, Shakafuswa, who served as MP and Deputy Minister under the late President Levy […]

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Shakafuswa Jonas

Former Deputy Finance Minister Jonas Shakafuswa says Zambia’s current political troubles started with tribalism, and cited a sermon by a Catholic Priest calling for elections to be rigged to block a particular tribe from power.

Writing on his social media handle, Shakafuswa, who served as MP and Deputy Minister under the late President Levy Mwanawasa and is pushing for Chief Mukuni to be recognized as Paramount Chief, said the country must face the truth to reconcile.

He argued that the post-election fallout reflects a deeply divided country.

“The so called election fall out is manifestation of a very polarized Zambia. Let us be honest. The most aggrieved party is the northern region. Not all Zambians.”

According to Shakafuswa, the last elections were seen as a chance to return leadership to one region.

“This elections offered them the best opportunity to ‘return power’ in the hands of their region. It failed.”

He recalled the controversial remarks by the clergyman.

“You will remember a Catholic Priest, Father Lupupa preaching in church that it is better to rig elections than allow a certain tribe be in power? It failed.

“That tribe got power. That’s when the fight started. Nothing the tribe could do was seen as being right. The tribe also started reacting to maintain ‘law and order’. This has been the Genesis of our problems in this Country.”

Shakafuswa said Zambia cannot achieve democracy while clinging to ethnic entitlement.

“As long as we believe only our tribe is entitled to hold power over other tribes, we will never experience true democratic rule. We have to come out and be true to ourselves,” he said.

He added that Zambia belongs to all its people.

“This Country does not belong to any ethnicity. It belongs to all Zambians. There is no superior ethnic group in our Country. We all are equal.”

“Removing the superior ethnicity tag from your life will be the begining of reconciling our Country to a true one Zambia one Nation.

“A nation without regional borders. A Country which does not employ on ethnicity lines. A Country which moves together as one people.

“The ethnic tag should not be imported in the civil service. Defense Forces and all quasi government departments. All those who seek Justice should remove their tribal coat for all of us to experience true Justice,” he added.

In February 2021, Father Lastone Lupupa, a Catholic priest from Matero Parish in Zambia, sparked widespread controversy after suggesting it is better to rig an election than to allow certain politicians to take power.

The remark quickly went viral and drew immense backlash from Zambians, politicians, and fellow clergy members.

During a sermon, Father Lupupa claimed that some political figures were “dangerous” and “too much of themselves” to be allowed into State House, implying that rigging would be a preferable alternative to their leadership.

Many observers believed his comments were targeted at then-opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.

The statement was heavily condemned across social media and by political groups like the United Party for National Development (UPND). Critics argued that a religious leader should preach peace and unity rather than subverting democracy.

Notably, the late retired Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu strongly rebuked the remarks, calling them treasonous and suggesting that Lupupa leave pastoral work for politics.

Following the intense public outcry, Father Lupupa posted a short video clip on his Facebook page unreservedly apologizing to the Catholic Church and the Zambian public, asking for forgiveness for his statements.