Former Higher Education PS petitions Catholic Church over Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa’s misconduct on allegation against Mundubile

The intersection of high-stakes national politics and religious administration has taken a dramatic turn following a formal petition lodged against Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa. Former Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Owen Mugemezulu has written to the Catholic Church hierarchy, specifically appealing to Vicar General Father Andrew Simpasa, demanding that Mr. Kangwa be barred from administering Mass or performing other sacred liturgical duties within the church. The petition stems from a heated political climate following recent general elections, during which Mr. Kangwa publicly alleged that opposition figure and presidential candidate Brian Mundubile was linked to militia activities. Mr. Mugemezulu, a self-described long-time admirer of Mr. Kangwa’s professional and religious life, contends that making such grave assertions without verifiable public evidence falls drastically short of Christian morality. In his correspondence, the former permanent secretary argued that labeling a distinguished parliamentarian and citizen as a militia leader is equivalent to bearing false witness, a transgression he believes disqualifies Mr. Kangwa from standing at the altar as a spiritual leader. The controversy underscores the deep social and political polarization currently gripping the country in the aftermath of a fiercely contested electoral cycle. Security wings recently reported cracking down on alleged unlawful gatherings and security threats involving various political actors, leading to high-profile detentions and heated counter-narratives from civil society and religious figures. As government officials defend state security actions and issue stern warnings against unverified commentary, opposition sympathizers and neutral observers alike have increasingly pushed back against what they characterize as heavy-handed state rhetoric and character assassination. For the Catholic Church, which has historically played a delicate and influential r