Today's letters to the editor

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:24:37 +0000

Open letter to Archbishop Mpundu

His Excellency,

The Most Reverend Telesphore George  Mpundu,

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lusaka

Dear Archbishop

Mpundu,

Belonging to your flock, allow me to express my disagreement and astonishment in reference to your recent political declarations.

Two months ago I could not believe my eyes when you made politically biased declarations and brought the whole Catholic congregation into embarrassment.

You repeated essentially the same declaration this week and I feel strongly that, as a Roman Catholic, it is my duty to distance myself from you as our highest Catholic authority in Zambia.

In Mark 12:17, we read:

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.”

I am reading in the Matthew Henry’s Concise Bible Commentaries:

“12:13-17 The enemies of Christ would be thought desirous to know their duty, when really they hoped that whatsoever side he took of the question, they might find occasion to accuse him. Nothing is more likely to ensnare the followers of Christ, than bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics. Jesus avoided the snare, by referring to the submission they had already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marvelled at the great wisdom of his answer.”

It is wise to fully separate the earthly and spiritual powers in a well working community.

Caesar and God should not be mixed up as our Lord tells us so eloquently especially since they are not at the same level.

As a citizen of Zambia you are fully free to have your political opinion but in your capacity as the Archbishop and leader of our church in Zambia, you are guided by the word of our Lord.

I am convinced that the Most Reverend Nuntius Apostolicus, representing Pope Francis in Zambia, will confirm to you the rules of our holy church.

I have worked in many countries with dictators in power, believe me, your declaration of Zambia going towards a dictatorship is totally out of reality and a lie.

I would invite you to contact with some of your colleagues in real dictatorships and listen to them about their suffering.

I wonder why you are making your voice heard only now and why you were in the past year so quiet when Zambians were undergoing violence and suffering from the action of the politicians.

Your Anglican colleague made clear declaration on the then on-going violence on the 23rd of May 2016.

Did not Mr. Hichilema declare loud and clear in June 2016 that he would bring Armageddon over Zambia when he would not win the election?

Where was Mr. Hichilema when you organised a conference against violence and for peace during the election.

Did you realize that he was not interested in your mediation? When your fellow Zambians were persecuted after the elections I did not hear your voice.

The Catholic Church showed its real mission when the refugees from the village Namwala as well as the so called foreigners were fed and lodged by one of your churches. I did not here you making any declaration.

You can explain by long and large, but your declarations are political and biased.

I am sure you congratulated HE President Lungu on his election, the international community did it also.

Even if Mr. Hichilema tells it 1000 times that he is the president of Zambia the reality is different, he lost and Mr. Lungu is the President of Zambia.

Your declarations fit perfectly into the one year on-going, political intrigues based on Mr. Hichilema’s strategy “If I do not win it will bring Armageddon to Zambia”.

Your Excellency, are you sure you want to be part of this political game and risk to lose your flock?

The Catholics in Zambia have a well-respected and very important voice. But this only, if we all stick to the teachings of our lord.

I am a strong believer in our Roman Catholic teachings and ethics as well as a fervent admirer of our beloved Pope Francis who is going through all kinds political cliffs without falling into the trap of being used.

We all would appreciate if you would use your important voice to remind certain politicians that they all are human beings and should have the interest of the Zambian People before their personal interest.

What is done right now is very Un-Zambian. To sacrifice the very intact Zambian image on the altar of self-love.  This is a sin.

I pray for my country Zambia and that the Lord will give you strength to see the truth.

Chishimba Kasonka

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Archbishop Mpundu should not forget the Rwanda genocide

Dear Editor,

In case his Grace has forgotten, it was his church that started the Rwanda 1994 genocide which left almost 1,000,000 people dead through careless utterances like his.

His boss the Pope recently and publicly apologized for the bad role his church played in that genocide.

What I thought of him was to play a reconciliatory role instead of openly siding with opposition UPND.

Again, he seems to have forgotten that the majority of Zambians voted for President Lungu in 2016 and not Hakainde Hichilema.

The Church which independently monitored the elections also confirmed that President Lungu was the winner.

For his sake, whatever has happened between him and HH should be treated personal and he should not drug the church into it.

Already some Catholic dioceses are distancing themselves from Archbishop Mpundu for very good reasons. One such diocese is the Ndola one whose Bishop Alick Banda flatly denies any crisis in Zambia as being portrayed by his boss Archbishop Mpundu.

Archbishop Mpundu has so far demonstrated reduced leadership qualities which deserve to be condemned by all rightful thinking Zambians.

He will not win and he should not be allowed to divide the Catholic Church for a few pieces of silver he may have gotten from HH.

Many Zambians are aware that the cartel which is solidly behind HH has offloaded billions and so piling institutions such as the judiciary, church and individuals. That is precisely how even Jesus was sold. Lust for money.

He seems to be bitter with President Lungu’s government for reasons only known to him. He is also on record for opposing the construction of national house for prayers yet the man’s sole business on earth is to save souls and not bask in politics unless of course it is for his pocket.

Luckily, God’s hand is on this nation and Zambians should continue to pray for peace and shame Lucifer’s agent s who want to see blood in this nation.

We do not want the Rwanda genocide in Zambia. For now Zambians are better ignoring Archbishop Mpundu who appears to have his own kind of problems and frustrations. The best Archbishop Mpundu can do for now is to retire and go full time into politics.

Moses B Mwanza,

Chawama