Zambia: Meeting between Catholic bishop and former president disrupted by police

According to Crux News reporting on 22 May 2024, state police stormed the office of Bishop Clement Mulenga during a meeting with former President Edgar Lungu. The police action was later condemned as a violation of human rights and the government apologized for the incident; however, concerns remain about the levels of political tension in Zambia.

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “Zambia is a predominantly Christian country with virtually no reports of Christian persecution. This incident highlights the shrinking political and civic space in the country. It is also the second time that the former president has been prevented from freely interacting with citizens and church leaders as his public appearances are considered a potential threat to national security. The incident also highlights the growing tensions between the government and the Catholic Church, which is one of the largest Christian denominations in the country (38.3% of all Christians, according to World Christian Database, accessed May 2024). Catholic church leaders have been critical of the government on a range of issues, including human rights abuses and political violence. If this situation with the church is not addressed, it could lead to the Christian community becoming increasingly targeted by the government.”