POLITICS-ZAMBIA: CHURCH OPPOSES CHILUBA

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

JOWIE MWIINGA

LUSAKA, Dec 20 1994 (IPS) - THE CHURCH IN ZAMBIA HAS SLAMMED PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA’S LEADERSHIP STYLE AND THE QUALITY OF HIS MINISTERS.

IN ITS MOST SCATHING STATEMENT, THE CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF ZAMBIA ACCUSES THE CHILUBA ADMINISTRATION OF CORRUPTION, IMMORALITY AND INSENSITIVITY TO THE PLIGHT OF THE MASSES.

THE STATEMENT, SIGNED BY COUNCIL GENERAL SECRETARY REV. VIOLET SAMPA-BREDT, ARGUES THAT THE ECONOMIC REFORMS EFFECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT “WILL REMAIN FUTILE FOR AS LONG AS LEADERS CONTINUE TO PLUNDER THE COUNTRY’S LIMITED RESOURCES”.

“EVEN IF WE NEED THE STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMME, WE CERTAINLY DO NOT NEED IT IN ITS PRESENT FORM, WHERE CORRUPT ACTIVITIES OCCUPY CENTRE STAGE AND THUS QUESTION THE MORAL BASIS FOR THE PROGRAMME,” SAMPA-BREDT SAYS.

“I AM AWARE THAT SOME COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, TOO, ARE ADJUSTING THEIR ECONOMIES, BUT THE WOES COMMON IN ZAMBIA ARE STRANGE PHENOMENA,” SHE ADDS.

NOTING THAT THE CHILUBA ADMINISTRATION HAD FAILED TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL IMBALANCES EXISTING IN THE COUNTRY, SHE SAYS: “JUSTICE SHOULD BE DONE HERE AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”.

CHURCH OF GOD STATE OVERSEER, BISHOP JOHN MAMBO, PROPOSES THAT THE CHURCH BE INVOLVED MORE IN RUNNING THE AFFAIRS OF STATE TO KEEP UNSCRUPULOUS LEADERS AT BAY.

“THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SEPARATE THE CHURCH FROM POLITICS TO CONCEAL CORRUPTION, IMMORALITY, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND OTHER EVILS.

“THE FUTURE OF ZAMBIA DEPENDS ON THE CHURCH BECAUSE WE ARE GOD FEARING PEOPLE. WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, STOP SAYING, ‘LET US SEPARATE POLITICS FROM THE CHURCH’,” HE SAYS.

ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES HAVE HOUNDED PRESIDENT CHILUBA SINCE HIS GOVERNMENT ASSUMED OFFICE AFTER SCORING A LANDSLIDE VICTORY AT MULTI-PARTY POLITICS IN NOVEMBER 1991.

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, 18 MINISTERS HAVE LEFT THE GOVERNMENT EITHER BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN LINKED TO CORRUPTION, OR WERE DISGUSTED WITH THE BEHAVIOUR OF FELLOW LEADERS.