Letters to the editor

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:44:01 +0000

SHOULD JERUSALEM BE THE  CAPITAL OF MODERN DAY ISRAEL?

Dear Editor

JERUSALEM figures prominently in both biblical history and biblical prophecy, and it is currently the focus of much controversy and political wrangling.

As of December 6, 2017, the United States has recognised Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel, acknowledging the facts of history.

All politics aside, the declaration that Jerusalem is the legitimate capital of Israel is biblically and historically accurate.

The first country to recognize Israel after it declared its independence in 1948 is also the first to formally recognise Jerusalem as its capital.

Throughout the world, and particularly in the Middle East, religious and nationalist movements have challenged the validity of states and borders as defined in the past.

Therefore, there is more than symbolism in the move by President Trump, who, inter alia, based the recognition on the ancient connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.

King David first chose Jerusalem as Israel’s capital 1,000 years before Christ. The city was destroyed in AD 70, but, after World War II, on May 14, 1948, Israel once again became an independent state.

The U.S. quickly recognised Israel’s restored status as a national homeland for the Jewish people.

Then on December 5, 1949, Israel declared Jerusalem to be its capital again.

Unfortunately, other nations have been slow in facing the reality of Israel’s independence and its right to choose its own capital.

In 1995, the United States Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which required the U.S. embassy be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

However, for twenty-two years, implementation of that law was delayed on the grounds of “national security.” Now, finally, the U.S. has officially recognized the obvious; Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

This recognition accords with thousands of years of history and the wishes of Israel itself.

Of course, some are opposed to recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Muslims in general and Palestinians in particular (and Muslim terrorist organisations) are offended by the thought of Jerusalem being made the legitimate capital of Israel.

This is due in large part to the place the Temple Mount holds as the third holiest Islamic site.

According to the Qur’an (Surah 17:1), Muhammad made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in AD 621.

There he led worship at “the farthest mosque,” was lifted to heaven, and returned to earth to carry on his teachings.

The Dome of the Rock, built in AD 692, marks the place where Muhammad supposedly ascended to heaven.

Today the Temple Mount is under the control of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a trust established in 1187 to manage the Islamic structures in Jerusalem.

Under their current rules, access to the holy sites is prohibited to all non-Muslims.

It is important to realize a couple things: first, the Israeli government recognizes the rights of Muslims to worship on the Temple Mount, and it works to protect them there. Second, the Qur’an upholds the rights of the Jews to the Promised Land, which includes Jerusalem:

“And thereafter Allah said to the children of Israel, ‘Dwell securely in the Promised Land’” (Sura 17:104; see also Sura 2:122; Sura 45:17; and Sura 57:26).

Normally, every country designates its own capital, and then nations with diplomatic relations with that country build an embassy in that city.

For instance, when Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1961, all the foreign embassies moved as well.

The only country in the world whose capital has not been honoured this way is Israel.

All of Israel’s government buildings, as well as the residences of the President and Prime Minister, are there. Yet not a single foreign embassy is in Jerusalem.

We believe that Israel should be afforded the same right as every other country to choose its own capital.

The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a vital step in the fulfilment of biblical prophecy. The dry bones began coming back together (Ezekiel 37).

The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s true and historic capital is another giant step.

The stage is being set for the rest of prophetic scriptures to be fulfilled.

We may not know all the implications of current events on the prophetic timeline, but one thing we can say for sure is that Jerusalem is a special city.

 It is the only city in the world where God has put His Name: “In Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever” (2 Kings 21:7).

Mukuka Chilufya HRH, Friend of Israel,

Chambishi Mine Township

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Ban makeshift ‘restaurants’ in industrial areas

Dear Editor,

I WISH to highly applaud government for removing vendors from our streets and the city is something to look at today.

To be honest, they were the source of the filth and growing of cholera germs which needlessly cost scores of Zambian lives.

Now I wish to make an earnest appeal to the authorities, especially the Lusaka City Council to quickly move in and remove all those filthy ‘restaurants’ erected  behind wall boundaries in both light and heavy industrial areas.

Apart from being an eyesore, they pose the most health dangers since they have no running water or toilet facilities.

I am told that these people, mostly women, defecate in plastic containers and there after move on to handle food for their customers. Horrible!

The source of their cooking water is another riddle.

Other disgusting stories talk about the same people keeping those plastic containers which they use to answer the call of nature in their cooking premises for throwing away later after knocking off.

This is beyond anyone’s imagination and the sooner these are chases away from those place the better because they are a health time bomb.

The council should also fine those companies that have allowed those types of squatters on their premises.

Similarly, companies in industrial areas should be encouraged to open up canteens for their workers to prevent them from contracting serious diseases from these brutal eating places.

Don’t they say that a stitch in time saves nine later? Harold Mbulo

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Corruption at the Office of the Auditor General?

Dear Editor,

ALLOW me space in your well read newspaper.

The nation is fully aware that the office of the Auditor General is a very important institution in Zambia.

The office is renowned for informing the nation annually on financial irregularities when its audit report is out.

This culminates into us as auditees being grilled at Parliament Accounting Committee (PAC) on alleged financial irregularities so reported.

Yet over the years, the office seems to have mastered the art of concealing its own illegalities.

 I say this because not too long ago we heard of disturbing act of corruption involving its officers who were auditing at RDA and other institutions which involved huge sums of money.

These acts of alleged corruption and many others seem to vanish in thin air obviously on the pretext of preserving the integrity of the office.

Lately, we have also heard from officers working for this office of their bosses unleashing the police to silence whistle blowers within the Office.

They say he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Are the hands of our revered auditors clean?

I implore powers that be to quickly move in and conduct an independent investigation on these disturbing and serious allegations which have a potential to permanently impair the image of this important office.

Concerned citizen, Ndola