Sanctimonious sermons

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:21:45 +0000

It is not true that the country is perched on the precipice of Armageddon.

This is what the cartel would want the international community to believe, indeed this was prophesied by the opposition, but has not and will not come to pass, because Zambians are a peaceful people who will not allow a few power hungry politicians and crooked businessmen to manipulate them into a conflagration.

We are actually appalled that the church took the route of a public statement to offer counsel to the leadership of this country which has shown magnanimity and willingness to seek counsel from religious leaders whenever the need arose.

It is true that our country is facing political problems. What with the leader of the opposition Hichilema Hakainde being incarcerated, but it not true that the situation is beyond redemption, but what is true is that sanctimonious judgmental sermons will not persuade antagonists to dialogue, rather they will be driven from any form of discourse.

The sweeping statements by the Archbishop attacking the Police, Judiciary, executive and the Patriotic Front as a ruling party totally ignore the full genesis of the current crisis.

The analysis also fails to appreciate the dynamic of power politics on the ground and inherent tribal undertones.

It will not serve any useful purpose for the Bishop and the church to pepper over and pretend that the elephant in the room, namely tribalism is not at the root of the current problem. The origins lie squarely in the sharp ethnic political fault line that has been created by politicians whose interest is to gain, control and maximize their ability to wrest power which will give them authority over resources.

Zambians are not tribalists. Visit any catholic church, tribe will not be an issue. Talk politics the problem is bound to arise.

This is called power politics.

Zambians are angry because their democratically elected Government has not only been maligned but has been denigrated with impunity. The opposition has refused to acknowledge the Government.

They find it highly irresponsible and provocative to suggest that Zambia today stands on the precipice because the opposition which lost the elections has launched a propaganda campaign of calumny.

This is the impression that the cartel and members of its league would like to project to the international community in the hope of attracting sympathy.

Zambians are peaceful people, the tribal specter is an allusion and illusion created by politicians for the purposes of gaining power, influence and therefore an opportunity to control national resources.

Left to their own devises Zambians will not countenance tribe, but will instead aspire for a collective identity that seeks to better the social and economic wellbeing of all.

Meanwhile the role of the cartel in inflaming a perception of cataclysmic turmoil should not be underestimated.

That is why it is ill advised for institutions and individuals who are known for their bias to take a moralistic pedestal in the name of the church, NGO or similar platform to offer “poison chalice “counsel that inflames attitudes rather than seeks consensus, accommodation and ultimately dialogue.

Zambia is not at the edge of anything. It has never been, not even in the dark days of severe shortages and political repression that was witnessed in the one party era. To suggest otherwise is mischief.

Those wishing to offer counsel must start from a position of knowledge, impartiality and goodwill and not grandstanding.

During this Easter period the wisdom of Pope Francis stand out, when he states that there is no perfect family, rather forgiveness is the asepsis of the soul the cleansing of the mind and the liberation of the heart.

The Pope is not judgmental. He has stated quite categorically that Christians have a duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone. Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, they should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet.

In this regard Christians are expected to avoid condemning and castigating other people who they may not agree with. Instead, Pope Francis says, they must be good examples of the happiness and joy provided by spirituality and faith.