The Bishops Council of Zambia has said Zambians should not tolerate international organisations that are working to destabilise the country’s peace by meddling in its political affairs.
Council director Isaac Chabwera said yesterday it was wrong for international fund agencies to back activities that aimed to influence the success of a particular political party.
Dr Chabwera was reacting to reports that the Department for International Development (DfID) was using a media organisation to fund the Patriotic Front (PF)’s campaign activities.
He said such underhand methods by the DfID and the PF should not be condoned and that Zambians would not be easily misled.
“Let organisations such as DfID use their money for progressive activities that will advance development in our country,” he said.
Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire revealed at the weekend that DfID was using the Press Freedom Committee of the Post newspaper to fund PF campaign activities.
However, Dr Chabwera said it was not possible that funding political party activities was part of the DfID mandate in Zambia.
He said it was not right that such an international organisation should be used to unlawfully un-sit a democratically elected Government through support of an opposition party.
And Public Concern Zambia urged the DfID to ensure it was not deemed irrelevant by its decision to fund political parties with intentions to remove the ruling party.
PCZ director Steve Banda said funding of a political party by an organisation such as the DfID amounted to interference in Zambia’s sovereignty.
Mr Banda said if the DfID was interested in facilitating for media freedom in Zambia, it should look at programmes that supported other media bodies as well.
He said supporting one media organisation to champion one political party’s cause, did not amount to fighting for media freedom.
“If the DfID is funding The Post, it should also know that the newspaper was in partnership with the PF, which has been condemning the work of donor countries and their organisations’ work in Zambia,” he said.
Mr Banda said international organisations should respect Zambia’s democracy and support the media to remain impartial and defend the country’s dignity.
“These organisations should be more transparent in the manner they conduct activities and they should not bring in confusion,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Chabwera, Banda, Chifire all from the East. Seems like RB has spent a lot on Eastern Province run sham NGO’s.
Exactly who do the Bishops council of Zambia represent? They are Bishops of which church(es)…. just asking out of curiosity!!
Kumodzi ku’mawa! A bunch of Nyasalanders on the attack. Your cousins in Nyasaland proper took on the British and look were it has landed them! Delayed salaries, fuel crisis and forex shortages. The first Nyasalnder President of Zambia also had the same problem with ‘foreign interference’. When are you people ever going to look inwards and at yourselves? Leave the donors alone. They came for the needy, the diseased and the dispossesed. They didnt come for criminals and bootlickers like you. Seems MMD is just another tribal party now.
You entry is a reflection of the age old saying “ignorance is bliss” ENJOY!
Everybody knows the financial position of the Post;what about the Finance Bank debt?. And Namakando mmembe’s jail issue.They will campaign for Sata to salvage themselves. Is it any wonder that they support Sata?……..
We know that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZEC) represent and oversee the Catholic church in Zambia. These Bishops come from All provinces (dioceses) in Zambia and their mission is clearly outlined. Now what is the Bishops Council of Zambia? From which churches or Ecclesial Communities? what is their mission and membership? just want to know, like #2 asked!!
Ohhhhhh scratch my ass. Self appointed bishops from tuntemba ndombafye churches.
DfID is a wicked organisation, here in Namibia it was banned for good.
Bishops council of Zambia, my foot!!You think everything big lipped Chiffire says is gospel truth and should be supported. DFID is an international organization and carries our similar activities and programmes in a number of countries. There is absolutely nothing wrong in supporting PFCP, period!
Out of curiosity, what is the legal position regarding donations to political parties in Zambia?
I wonder why question who the bishops are and which churches they represent. I, as an individual, am entitled to question DFID on its conduct particularly that The Post is no longer impartial on the political front! The Post does not provide full and accurate information on all presidential aspirants and this is gross professional misconduct and abrogation of the roles of the media which are to inform, educate, entertain among others. Just because the Post reports on your preferred candidate does not take away the fact that you have made a decision based on half truths and data/information not given to you. Let us be objective always because tomorrow its you who might be on the wrong side of things. VIVA UPND, VIV HH.
Where has this so called “bishops council” being when govt has been insulting the clergy, siphoning money from govt coffers, failing to deliver and alleviate poverty etc etc?
Is this a council of MMD bishops?
#5, THESE ARE BISHOPS FROM CHURCHES MADE IN ZAMBIA
THESE ARE NOT BISHOPS BUT BEES-IN-SHOPS
These self-made bishops, who think title bishop makes them greater, better and superior to a noble and faithful pastor in a village somewhere.
Why are they not seeing the injustices and short-change that the government are dealing out on us?
They are blind guides, seeking to lead the blind.
LEAVE DFID OUT OF YOUR VUVUZELA ACTIVITIES…………DFID IS NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR ZRD POLITICS…THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ENHANCING DEMOCRACY IN YOUR POOREST OF THE POOR COUNTRY……….UNO MWAKA KAYA BEBELE BA MMD!!!!!!…..WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU’RE PACKING……..NI BYE BYE POLIO!!!!……….WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT CHANGE,!!!!!!!!!!!!!……….NI PA BWATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
#1 u say al thez ngos r 4rm eastern prvnce can u also explain why al catholic bishops apart frm duffy who r critical of rb are either bemba by tribe or they r bembaland domiciled?
@16, is Bishop Lungu Bemba or Bembaland domiciled? Please educate me…What about Fr. Miha of Ndola???
#17 i thought father miha lives on da coperbelt bembaland and i also thot bishop lungu is also in coperbelt or is it mansa in luapula? Kindly shed more light on bishop lungu’s domicile.
DFID or no DFID, chalo chesu….
This is our land and they should have some respect. I can’t wait for elections so that all this nonsense is put to rest. Serious Zambians want development.