Letters

Tue, 16 May 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Of Catholic Bishops:

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE

Dear Editor,

IN ORDER to have a clear view of the Catholic Church’s position in respect of the current political scenario, we have to lean on history.

The Oasis Forum comprised of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ); Evangelical Fellowship (EFZ); the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC); the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the Non-Government Organization Coordinating Council NGOCC). The enthusiasm was created when the Oasis Forum managed to attract a large group of intellectuals and successfully helped to campaign against Chiluba’s third term bid.

And in order to create a great impact upon Christians, they decided to ‘’divinize’’ the movement (i.e., it began to be referred to as ‘’The Church-led Oasis forum’’). And His Grace Bishop Telesphore George Mpundu, the then Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president declared: ‘’….the involvement of the Catholic Church in the Oasis Forum is to ensure that a people-driven Constitution is enacted.’’ (Saturday Post 24th December 2005).

On 1st November 2005, the Church-led Oasis Forum organized a demonstration to campaign for the adoption of the Constitution through a constituent assembly. On 23rd  November 2005, UPND Kabwata Member of Parliament, Honourable Given Lubinda moved a private motion on behalf of the Church-led Oasis Forum which sought to suspend Standing Orders No. 39 to enable the House to consider tabling a petition on the establishment of the constituent assembly for the adoption of the new Constitution. And the result was: 65 Members mainly MMD voted against, while 52 Members mainly UPND voted for the motion.

And while the Church-led Oasis Forum dubbed 52 UPND Members as ‘’gallant,’’ it   immediately began to de-campaign against the MMD Members of Parliament who had voted against the motion by publishing their names in The Post and intimidating them that Christians would not vote for them. And the Church-led Oasis Forum is indeed and undeniably a political movement since it can campaign and de-campaign politicians in and out of office.  But to the organization’s disappointment and shame MMD won the by-election held on 19th January 2006. Then I went on to challenge His Grace Bishop Telesphore George Mpundu who had declared: ‘’We hold in very high regard the diversity of political affiliations among the Zambian Catholic flock. We are not king makers and never tell the faithful whom or what political party to vote for. All what we do is to ask them to vote responsibly in the interest of our nation.’’

And in order to fully understand the implications of His Grace Bishop Mpundu’s press release, we have to analyze it through the application of Playfair’s theorem: if A is equal to B as well as equal to C. then B is also equal to C. Therefore the reality on the ground is that since the Catholic Church is in support of the Oasis Forum (according to His Grace Bishop Mpundu’s admission as per Post of 24th December 2005), then the Church in then is as well in support of the 52 ‘’gallant’’ UPND Members of Parliament.

‘’The only undeniable logical conclusion is that Mother Church is no longer non-partisan. And according to ZNBC 0700 hours news on 26th December 2005, Honourable Webby Chipili MP was reported to have said that there was a Catholic priest in Solwezi who was using relief maize to campaign for the Oasis Forum. And in view of the foregoings, the Church-led Oasis Forum has shifted its goal posts from the level grounds of the political battlefield into the sanctuary of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

This is a deliberate and calculated move because the underlying combined political and spiritual maneuvers may be summed up in this way: to oppose the Church-led Oasis Forum is to be opposed to the Catholic Bishops; to oppose the Catholic Bishops is to be opposed to Mother Church; to oppose Mother Church is to oppose her teachings and to oppose her teachings is to be stigmatized as a heretic.’’

It was then that The Post of 23rd December 2005 came out with the headline: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ARE JUST WASTING THEIR TIME. It was reported that President Mwanawasa had said: ‘’Cathoilic Bishops are wasting their time if they are working with the opposition to remove him from power because he does not need their support for him to win elections.’’

Political Analyst

Why are the Police failing to arrest Fred M’membe

Dear Editor,

A few days ago we were informed that for Post Newspaper Editor Fred M’membe had returned to the country from wherever he had gone to hide. Why are the Police not arresting him considering that there is a warrant for his arrest?

In his time Fred M’membe had no kind words for those evading arrest.  Together with disgraced Mutembo Nchito they opposed President Chiluba from travelling out of the country to attend treatment abroad from which he returned to face the law.

This showed courage of conviction which culminated in his acquittal. Why cant Fred M’membe also face the law?

At the same time it is quite interesting by UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba is busy issuing electronic statements from wherever he is also hiding.

These are supposed to be men of courage and determination, ever ready to lead the masses to their glorious future. How do they do this from their air-conditioned bunkers and hide outs while the people they lead are left to face the results of their provocation. Zambians must learn a lesson from recent event that not all those leaders c swearing their undying loyalty and love to the people of Zambia have any intention of facing the results of their action except when it comes to enjoying the fruits from the sweat and suffering of their followers.

These people are cowards who will run away when Zambia is on fire and the many people supporting them have been left with no kind of cover or protection.

Those with courage of tgheir convictions must remain in the country and  fight for the cause than go hiding.

Stanley Mwango

Political judgment by Magistrates

Dear Editor,

 I am very puzzled by the statement made by Magistrate Simusamba that he will make a ruling over the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to commit UPND President to the High Court for Trial for Treason in the High Court.

What ruling will the Magistrate make when the law very clearly states that the DPP enjoys full constitutional authority to determine which matter will be prosecuted and in which court this will be done.

This is not for the Magistrate for as long as the DPP has conduct of a matter.It is trite law that a case of treason is triable by the higher court and not Magistrate Simusamba. This is the law.

So what will the Magistrate determine if the Treason case is supposed to be tried in a higher court?

I was rather intrigued that in the trial over the insult charge, the Magistrate allowed issues of treason to arise. Was this correct considering that this was not the forum for the case.

For example according to the Times of Zambia a senior police officer was forced into a position where he said he had evidence to show that HH has intended to overthrow the Government.

This was after one of the lawyers Keith Mweemba asked whether the police officer was aware that Government could be overthrown through the courts. This question should not have been allowed because the court hearing the insults levelled at Police officers had nothing to do with the treason case that has already been committed to the High Court.

The report goes on to state that the prosecution did not appear prepared to challenge the line of questioning that Mr. Mweemba had adopted.

They should have responded that no Government can be overthrown in a democratic process through the courts. The Democratic process is the procedure where citizens go to the polls and elect a President as we did last year.  This is the democratic process of installing a Government. A court cannot overthrow a legally elected Government. It was therefore wrong and a complete violation of the law to suggest that a court had power to overthrow a Government.

This is as good as asking the court to make political statements over a matter that is before a very different court. These matter must always be clarified so that there is no doubt in the, mind of the public that a court will be acting from a legal status.

Ignatius Katulwende.

Why are we still paying high fees?

Editor,

Can the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of General Education come to the rescue of North Western schools? The Government heard the cries by school PTA’s against high school fees countrywide and a limit was set. But in  the North-Western  officials are now demanding over k18, 000 and k12, 000 from district schools. The huge amounts demanded are unbudgeted for and is therefore creating pressure on schools to arbitrarily increase fees.

Disappointed parents

Unacceptable behaviour of upnd supporter

Editor,

It is simply unacceptable to continue reading insults from one uncivilized UPND supporter who I earlier complained about on your platform. This person called Chichi has continued to post very distasteful insults directed at the Head of State on the Zambian Report platform. The question is, what is ZICTA doing about this platform which happens to be affiliated to MISA Zambia? This woman has now started insulting the black race as if her president is not black. I am informed that she is a half-caste but believes in her mind that she is white, shame! It now appears insulting innocent people is the trade mark of the UPND. ZICTA, this foul-mouthed maggot must be stopped now.

Micky, Ndola

A message to all women

Editor,

Having listened to many tributes by our freedom fighters poured on my late grandmother Salome Kapwepwe, I don’t know if this country was going to get liberated if the current crop of women were the ones who were there at that time. To them, nothing matters most apart from money. I hope that they learn something from our great mothers who really proved that indeed, behind every successful man is a woman. Our current women are just too fast for nothing.

Abel Mwape

Thank you for honouring Mrs. Kapwepwe Editor,

 We thank our President, Edgar Lungu, for the honour he bestowed on our old lady Mama Salome Kapwepwe when she died, to continue remembering her by us and the future generations to come. I wish to suggest that Chinsali Girl’s Secondary School be named after her as Mama Salome Chilufya Kapwepwe Girls Secondary school (MHRIP).

Citizen

Well done Kelvin Sampa mp

Editor,

Well done Hon. Kelvin Sampa MP. We need some people like you. Don’t retreat or be afraid, poor Zambians are behind you. You are a true lawmaker. LAZ for cartels only.

Concerned citizen

Bishop mambo, you have no valid points

Editor,

Ba Bishop John Mambo, you are talking too much without valid point. Remember the former government wanted to depot you from Zambia during UNIP era.

Concerned citizen, Ndola

Consumer protection, where are you?

Editor,

I don’t understand why we have this institution when we are being robbed of our money by supermarkets and others and they are just standing there and watching. Why does some of them peg prices of every item with a 99 ngwee and not giving the customer the correct change? Is that not theft because at the end of the day, how much money do they remain with? I think the authorities must do something.

Charles Kale, Kabwe

DEAR MR MWENYA MUSENGE

Editor

Mr. Mwenya Musenge, please avoid forcing people to think that you are a political dissident. The party you’ve started destabilizing is not one that made you lose your constituency to an independent candidate but your inability to interact with your electorate. Have you forgotten the deafening mummers that came from your constituents when the President introduced you to them at that rally in Kitwe? There was an overwhelming disapproval of you such that even the President almost lost his cool. The best you can do is to reflect on your past and see where you went wrong. The current marriage of convenience between you and the Mast will definitely work against you. Open your eyes, the earlier you do that, the better for you.

Citizen