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| National |
| Anglicans backtrack on excommunication |
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by
Pilirani Semu-Banda, 10 February 2003
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The Upper Shire Diocese of the Anglican Church yesterday rescinded a decision to excommunicate a priest and two Christians for leading a group of church faithful to block the enthronement of Archbishop Benard Malango as head of the diocese.
The three; Father Kasalika Ngulube, Ackim Mukolongo and Mathews Chilambo were reinstated following a protest from St. George’s Church council in Zomba whose Christians were also involved in obtaining a court injunction last August against Malango’s elevation on allegations that he had a history of shady deals in Zambia where he was Anglican archbishop for Central Africa province.
The injunction was lifted this year when Ngulube and his group lost in the first part of their case in the Blantyre High Court. The church fired the three a week after Malango’s enthronement.
But in a letter signed by nine diocese officials, the church said it has reversed its decision to excommunicate the priest after reviewing the issue.
“We notice there was an oversight on our side in that we could have, as a pastoral committee referred your case to the diocesan court. We hope this will receive your understanding and acceptance,” said the letter.
The letter bears the archbishop’s logo and the first signatory is that of Vicar General Father Patrick Mapundula.
Ngulube said in an interview his two colleagues have received similar letters.
He, however, said he is “taking the decision of the diocese with a pinch of salt”.
“I am happy that I am back on board but I still have questions as to why they decided to excommunicate me,” said Ngulube.
Efforts to talk to Mapundula proved futile as his telephone was perpetually engaged.
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