By SILUMESI MALUMO
CHIPATA Catholic dioceses Archbishop George Lungu is politically compromised that is why he is against the government empowerment programme meant to help the Church, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) president Andrew Ntewewe has said.
Mr Ntewewe, speaking at a media briefing yesterday urged the Church to ignore Bishop Lungu and access the empowerment fund from the government.
He said the empowerment fund at the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs was in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Mr Ntewewe wondered why Bishop Lungu would be apprehensive about the noble gesture from Government.
He encouraged the Church, especially the Catholic Church to heed advice from Lusaka Diocese Archbishop Alick Banda to access the empowerment fund.
Mr Ntewewe thanked Bishop Banda for being magnanimous, humble and apolitical in the affairs of the country.
“These empowerment activities are meant to uplift the living standards of the people. So let’s leave the politicians to wrestle it out independently without taking sides and let the pulpit be used to glorify the name of the Almighty and not for political expediency.
“We find it to be a mere political gimmick and rhetoric to suggest that Government cannot empower its own citizens due to national debt. It’s more like saying that simply because you have debt at personal level then you cannot take your children to school or hospital because you are in debt,” Mr Ntewewe said.
