THE Mission Press has apologized for putting a picture of New Ndola Catholic Diocese Bishop Benjamin Phiri and UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema on it’s cover page of the Icengelo Magazine.

Mission Press says it is not the intention of Icengelo Magazine to use pictures which have created an impression that the Catholic Church has endorsed Hichilema.

In a statement, outgoing Mission Press Director Fr Ferena Lambe apologized for creating the wrong impression.

“We are the owners of the famous Icengelo Magazine that has been in circulation in Zambia for more than 50 years, and for that reason, I would like to clarify and correct the wrong impression that the cover page of the September-October 2020 edition of the Icengelo Magazine might have generated in the minds of many readers,” stated Fr Lambe.

Fr Lambe, who is new minister of the conventual Franciscan Friars in Zambia and Malawi, stated that it was not the intention of Mission Press to insinuate anything.

“The cover of the said publication carried in the picture of our New Bishop of Ndola Diocese, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Benjamin Phiri and picture of Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development. As Minister and outgoing director of Mission Press, I take full responsibility for the wrong impression that this might have created. The putting together of the two pictures was neither intended to create the concept that the two leaders have something in common nor was intended to state that the Catholic Church in Zambia has endorsed Mr. Hakainde Hichilema,” stated Fr Lambe.

“The merging of the two pictures of September-October bulletins into one publication was a major cause of this error. As far as we know, the Catholic Church in Zambia has not and will not take sides in matters of politics nor endorse a political party in the country. Therefore, on behalf of Mission Press management, I regret and apologize for the wrong impressions and erroneous interpretation that this particular bulletin mighty have caused.”