FORMER PRIEST FRANK BWALYA TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CATHOLIC PRIEST OVER ALLEGED CYBER BULLYING

Former Catholic priest turned politician Frank Bwalya has announced that he will pursue formal legal and police action against a Kitwe Catholic priest, accusing the clergyman of cyber bullying and defamation. Addressing members of the press in Kitwe, Mr. Bwalya expressed deep frustration over what he termed malicious online statements designed to lower his reputation and subject his family to public ridicule. The development marks another dramatic chapter in the public life of a prominent Zambian figure who has frequently found himself at the intersection of religious authority and national politics. According to Mr. Bwalya, the offending remarks included unfounded allegations regarding his mental health and claims about his family background. Having spent over a decade navigating the turbulent waters of Zambian politics—transitioning from a fiery critic of past administrations to various political alignments—Mr. Bwalya noted that while he has often tolerated political brickbats, attacks involving his family cross a definitive red line. He emphasized that his decision to involve the law is entirely personal and independent of any political party affiliation, rejecting suggestions that the legal move is state-sponsored. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between political actors and members of the clergy in Zambia, where religious institutions wield considerable moral authority and social influence. Mr. Bwalya was careful to stress that his legal challenge is directed at an individual rather than the broader Catholic Church. He maintained that the vast majority of priests within the Diocese of Ndola and across the global church remain dedicated and holy servants of God, reiterating that his grievance is strictly confined to the alleged defamatory conduct of the specific priest in question. Meanwhile, the accused cleric, Fr. Henry Tyola, an assistant priest at St. Joseph Mukasa Parish in the Kwacha-Bulangililo area, has categorically denied the allegations. Th