Zambia: Two pastors deported in shock move by immigration officials
Released:12.2.06

 

 

Last night, two pastors of the UCKG Zambia were deported in a shock move by immigration officials.
 
The two pastors were approached by immigration officers at 11am on Saturday (11th Februrary) as they were cleaning the church in preparation for the Sunday service.

They were asked to accompany the officers to the immigration office without being given any explanation why.

However, the two pastors complied and followed the officers to the immigration office using the church car. They were then told to exit the church car and enter into another car with plain clothed policemen who were armed and were taken to an unknown location.

Other local UCKG pastors enquired from the central immigration office and the central police to find out the whereabouts of the two pastors but were not given any information.

Last night an appeal to the police and media was made at 11pm in the hope of gaining information about the pastors.

At 12 noon on Sunday (12th Februrary), the immigration office informed the church’s lawyer that the pastors had been deported on Saturday night as they were considered to be a threat to national security.

No official documents were presented for the action taken against the pastors, and the pastor’s wives were neither informed of what had happened to their husbands until this morning. However, the lawyer was told that the documents would be released on Monday the 13th February 2006.

“We are completely shocked by the sudden decision to deport two peaceful men of God who were simply going about their daily ministerial duties,” said Bishop Renato. “How on earth can they be considered a threat to national security? Their wives were in shock and were left the entire night fearing for the lives of their husbands.”

The UCKG in Zambia is now considering every legal avenue to appeal against this decision.

 

See links below for more information concerning events of the UCKG in Zambia.

Official Statement from UCKG in Zambia 01.12.05

Namibian Government Still Welcomes UCKG - Official 11.12.05

Zambia: Court Rules UCKG be Reopened 29.12.05

Church totally cleared of witchcraft and satanism allegations 20.01.06

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