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LIFE IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA Sometimes Risky |
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Life in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, is not always tranquil and free of danger. Fr. Ron Walker, OMI, the pastor of the newly established Mary Immaculate parish learned that even a parish building committee meeting can be hazardous. In a letter to Fr. David Kalert, OMI, U.S. Province Provincial, Fr. Ron Carignan, OMI, the Delegation Superior, reported some frightening events of March 18, 2004:
Last night, March 18 at approximately 7:00 pm, armed robbers attacked the members of the parish building committee who were having their weekly meeting at the church/tent. There were two robbers, one armed with an AK-47 assault rifle. All the committee members were pushed to the floor. Fr. Walker who did not move fast enough to satisfy one of the robbers was hit on the side of the head and pushed to the floor. One of the robbers kept yelling: "Kill them... kill them... shoot them all." The gun bearer stood some metres from the group so it would not be possible to jump him. The other went through all the pockets. They threw car keys on the floor saying they were not interested in cars. They collected about one million kwacha, three cell phones and all the content of wallets such as drivers licenses, credit or bank cards. They left as suddenly as they arrived, running off into the cemetery next to the church property. A full report was made to the local police.
Mr. Joseph Kaoma arrived just as the robbers left. It could be that the headlights from his vehicle scared them off.
I would just mention that Ron had quite a bruise near his left eye as well as a black eye.
There is a lot of this violence going on. Yesterday as well, four sisters and a priest were robbed at a local convent and all five were beaten up - the priest quite seriously.
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