Wed, 26 Apr 2017 11:38:46 +0000
By Justina Mulenga and Oscar Malipenga
April 25, 2017
IT IS saddening for the church to be on one side of politicians instead of bringing peace, love and harmony in the nation, 3rd Liberation Movement president Enoch Tonga has said.
And the Zambian DNA spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa has accused the Catholic Bishops of being on the UPND’s side because they have not advised the opposition party to tone down and stop inciting their cadres from engaging in activities likely to disturb the peace.
3rdLM president Mr Tonga told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that the responsibility of the church was to pray for the leaders in the nation and not siding with one politician and condemning the other.
“The church leaders should pray for leaders and give advice and not taking sides,” he said commenting on the Catholic Bishops’ statement that it was uncalled for to start raising matters that were already in the courts of law.
Mr Tonga said it was important for the church to give advice to politicians in private and not showing off, that the church and politics where different entities and should operate in different categories.
“All clergymen must stop involving themselves in politics and concentrate on praying for peace in the country to prevail,” he said.
And in a statement issued to the Daily Nation, Mr. Mulemwa charged that Zambian DNA was disappointed with the Catholic bishops’ attitude towards the Government as all they ever did was accuse the State of dictatorial tendencies.
Commenting on the pastoral letter by the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) president Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu, Mr. Mulemwa said the letter was anti-government as it painted ‘‘a real bleak picture’’ of President Edgar Lungu’s government.
“Which citizens have been victimized and brutalized by the State? Is arresting someone for wrongdoing harassment?
“The truth is that the Catholic bishops are on UPND’s side because at no time have they advised the UPND to tone down and stop inciting their cadres from engaging in activities likely to disturb the peace.
“UPND MPs continue disrespecting the Republican President by boycotting Parliament every time President Edgar Lungu addressed Parliament,” he said.
Mr. Mulemwa said the UPND had clearly stated that unless they were declared winners of the August 11, 2016, polls, they would not accept the poll results, and up to today the UPND did not recognize President Edgar Lungu as Head of State.
“Are they telling us that it is good for UPND not to recognize President Lungu as duly elected Head of State? Those are some of the issues which they were supposed to address before talking about reconciliation,’’ he said.
