Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:26:24 +0000
Bickering
By SANDRA MACHIMA & OSCAR MALIPENGA
THE church must thoroughly examine the root cause of the current controversy in the country that has left politicians and other groupings divided, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba-speaking people has observed.
And all church mother bodies have finally agreed to work together on matters relating to the state of the nation and in maintaining peace in the country following weeks of intense bickering triggered by a lopsided condemnation of government and President Edgar Lungu in particular.
Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Paramount Chitimukulu observed that the power of unity was stronger than the influence that was trying to divide the nation.
He said now that the church mother bodies had resolved to put the past behind them and resolved to work together going forward, the decision had provided hope that the seemingly tenacious political situation in the country would be quelled as was expected from the church in resolving matters of national interest to ensure peace and unity prevailed.
He said he was happy that the Government and the church were cognizant of the importance of maintaining peace and ensuring that Zambia recovered from its problems through dialogue, adding that the church should identify the root cause of conflict between the ruling and opposition political parties.
“We are happy to see the step Government has taken in ensuring that they meet with the church mother bodies and discuss matters related to the state of the nation for the sake of peace and unity,” Paramount Chitimukulu said.
Meanwhile, all church mother bodies have mutually agreed to constitute a smaller group to come up with a position on matters related to the state of the nation regarding peace and unity before meeting Government within a month.
This follows a closed-door meeting between church leaders and Vice President Inonge Wina on Tuesday which was attended by, among many others, Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu who had triggered the acrimonious debate with a lopsided condemnation of the Government and declared Zambia as a dictatorship.
Some of the church mother bodies represented included, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Zambia Council of Catholic Bishop (ZCCB), Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA), Zambia New Apostolic Council, Islamic Council of Zambia, CMML, United Church of Zambia, Reformed Church of Zambia, Evangelical Church of Zambia and the National House of Prayer, represented by Bishop Joshua Banda.
