By OLIVER SAMBOKO
ZAMBIANS should not be subjected to hunger and suffering when aid is available just because the country will be holding general election this year, the Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ) has said. BCZ general secretary Bishop Abel Kaela said the Archbishop of Lusaka, Alick Banda was right in allowing Catholics under his jurisdiction to be accepting gifts from government despite this being an election period.
Bishop Kaela said it was wrong for the church to reject donations from government and well-wishers on grounds that such gifts would be seen as inducement for support in the coming elections. He said the Bishops Council of Zambia does not agree with assertions that the donations being given to the church are meant to influence Christian voters in favor of the party in power. He said as far as the Bishops Council of Zambia was concerned those donating to the church were doing it out of love and care for the children of God. “Our view is that there is no season when the church rejects gifts for whatever reason because God does not refuse the church to accept donations from Government or any other well-wishers,” he said.
