Fr. Frank Bwalya’s parentage – PRESS STATEMENT

SCOPE: CLEARING THE AIR ABOUT MY PARENTAGE

Last year I wrote an open letter to President Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in eternal peace, dated July 23, 2013 in which I touched on the issue of my parentage. One thing I said in the said open letter was and I quote, “Should I decide to stand as Republican President in 2016 or before 2016, I will comply with the law regarding my parentage.”

It has become necessary for me to clear the air about my parentage.

My mother is from the Ushi tribe of Luapula province and her name is Pauline Chanda Pandawe. I am informed that the name Pandawe was a nickname given to my maternal grandfather as a soccer player but eventually became a family name. My mother whose parents were Andrew Kapundu Pandawe and Lucia Mwansa Kapoko hails from Mpandika village in Chief Mabumba’s area of Mansa district in Luapula province.

I was partly brought up by my late step father Japhet Longezani Banda, a Chewa who hailed from Chikomeni village of Chief Kabamila in Lundazi district. This explains why some of my siblings carry the surname of Banda.

My late father was from the Tonga tribe originally from Gwembe valley and his name was Frederick Malilwe Chiyabi alias Chitobolo. His village was Kagoli in Chief Monze’s area west of Monze and he is buried at the same village. His father, my grandfather is still alive aged 92 years and his name is Aaron Chiyabi Muyaba. He lives in Moya area west of Monze and he is the one who gave me my Tonga name, Malilwe.

My father’s mother was Julia Miyanda Mwanamonga. With this background, I am fluent in Cibemba. I also speak Nyanja and a bit of Tonga.

Therefore, I am a Zambian by descent. Both my parents and their parents were born in Zambia and their villages are traceable.

Finally, I wish to say that I am very proud to belong to three big families with roots from Luapula/Northern provinces (Ushi/Bemba), Southern province (Tonga) and Eastern province (Chewa). I am even more proud to belong to the nation called Zambia and the Christian family.

Fr. Frank Bwalya
ABZ LEADER