Katrina’s Dream calls for prayers, justice, and support for Bishop Trevor Mwamba following charges in Zambia
Bishop Trevor awaits the authorities to make a determination on his fate. Photo Credit: Mwamba supported
Helene de Boissiere-Swanson, founder of Katrina’s Dream and a longtime advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, today called for prayers, the proper administration of justice, and support for the family of the Rt. Rev. Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba, retired bishop of Botswana and president of Zambia’s United National Independence Party (UNIP), who is currently in custody at Madero Police Station facing charges of high treason.
Bishop Trevor Mwamba was among 11 people arrested in the aftermath of Zambia’s August 2026 general election during a violent security operation at a residence in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area. According to de Boissiere-Swanson, the bishop – known for his pastoral leadership, moral courage, and advocacy for justice – was caught up amid the disorder of those days.
“In this hour of trial I commend Bishop Trevor to the mercy and protection of the Most High,” de Boissiere-Swanson said. “I pray for his safety, for the proper administration of justice, and for the triumph of truth and compassion. May God, who is our refuge and strength, uphold him and all who suffer for righteousness’ sake. I ask also for your prayers and support of his family.”
De Boissiere-Swanson first met Mwamba in the summer of 2008 at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in Canterbury, England, where her family dined with the then-recently consecrated bishop of Botswana. The connection grew into a deep friendship rooted in shared commitment to justice and equality. After the sudden death of De Boissiere-Swanson’s husband, Mwamba provided spiritual solace and support to her and her sons. He later joined the board of directors of Katrina’s Dream and became a steadfast champion of its Let’s Pass the ERA program in the United States.
Mwamba has prayed with Equal Rights Amendment advocates during key legislative moments, including the 2017 Nevada ratification of the ERA — the first of the 21st century – and has offered opening prayers at Katrina’s Dream parallel events at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 2019 and 2025. He has been a consistent voice for equality under the law for all people and for bridging faith and public service.
In April 2021, on Easter Day, Mwamba was elected president of UNIP, the historic party founded by Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda. He succeeded Tilyenji Kaunda, ending two decades of unbroken Kaunda-family leadership and marking the first such transition since the 1960s. He has worked to recover the party’s founding ideals of unity and justice and has entered alliances with other opposition forces, including the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance.
Mwamba wears the bishop’s ring bestowed upon him by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a symbol of prophetic witness and the sacred trust placed upon him. De Boissiere-Swanson describes Mwamba as “a visionary and a man of action, guided by a sure moral compass, by integrity, and by an unwavering commitment to the service of all God’s people.”
Katrina’s Dream continues its work urging the U.S. Senate to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment as the final step before it is added to the U.S. Constitution, while standing in solidarity with Mwamba and his family.
About Katrina’s Dream
Katrina’s Dream is a ministry established in memory of the Rev. Katrina Swanson, one of the first women ordained to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church. The organization advances equality, justice, and the full inclusion of all God’s children, with a particular focus on ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment through its Let’s Pass the ERA program and related advocacy at the United Nations and beyond.