Friday, March 29, 2024

Sata mourns Fr Miha

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MISSION Press director Father Miha Drevensek
The Late MISSION Press director Father Miha Drevensek

PRESIDENT Sata has sent his message of condolences to the Catholic Church over the death of Mission Press director Father Miha Drevensek. President Sata expressed his condolences to Catholic Cardinal, Merdado Mazombwe, during a thanks giving mass at St Ignatius Parish yesterday.

“Fr Miha was a courageous and devoted priest who always stood on the side of the poor and the disempowered in society,” Mr Sata said. And in a statement issued by special assistant to the president for press and public relations, George Chellah, President Sata said Fr Miha was a courageous and devoted priest who passionately defended media freedom and promoted social justice.

“His was an illustrious ministry for the poor and vulnerable in our society. Fr Miha distinguished himself with exemplary humility as he championed progressive ideas,” he said.

Mr Sata said he will also remember Fr Miha’s great contribution to the identification of talent among youth and promotions of arts in the country.
And a cross section of society has described as a great loss the death of Fr Miha who is among people who championed the fight for freedom of the press and good governance in Zambia.

Fr Miha, 65, died on Saturday from a heart problem at Ndola’s Miramar Private Hospital where he was rushed for medical attention.
Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) president Andrew Sakala said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Fr Miha was a champion of freedom of the press and he struggled to ensure the media operated independently.

“Fr Miha’s death is a very sad occasion. It is very sad we have lost a frank and honesty person who fought for the freedom of the media,” Mr Sakala said. He said Fr Miha served people with humility as he carried himself as a servant of the people, regardless of their religion, tribe and political affiliation.

Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) general secretary Angela Chishimba said Fr Miha will be remembered for his relentless efforts to ensure there is freedom of the press.
Ms Chishimba said the media fraternity will miss Fr Miha for his contribution to the struggle for an independent media.

Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Paul Samasumo said Fr Miha’s death has robbed Zambia of a great leader. “ZEC received the death of Fr Miha with a sense of shock. It is a great loss to the Church and all Zambians,” Fr Samasumo said.

He said Fr Miha will be greatly missed for his contribution to the wellbeing of Zambians regardless of their religion. Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Macdonald Chipenzi said Zambia has lost an icon of peace, democracy and media freedom.

Mr Chipenzi said Fr Miha was an ardent supporter, lobbyist and champion of good governance and media freedom. “We have lost a gallant son of Zambia and we will greatly miss him. We wish to convey our condolences to the Catholic Church and his family.

Citizens Forum executive director Simon Kabanda said his organisation is deeply saddened by Fr Miha’s death. Mr Kabanda said Fr Miha was a fearless person, who spoke on behalf of the poor and his prophetic voice was felt by everyone. He said Fr Miha was a true reflection of the church in the modern world and was a strong good governance advocate in Zambia.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

40 COMMENTS

  1. Father Miha will be greatly missed by everyone. He was a great man, a spear in society!! A father of all…. especially the weak and vulnerable in society. May his soul rest in peace…

  2. Fr. Miha died at the age of 65years, the proposed retirement age by our President Sata for civil servants in Zambia. MHSRIP. President Sata wants people to be dying before they get their pensions. I am against the idea of retiring at 65 years. It should be voluntary for someone to continue working after 55 years.

  3. Without this man in my life..I would not even be where I am today…If I could even be just half the man he was, I would be a pretty happy with my life… Thank you Lord for a MAN that chased after your very heart!!!!

  4. He did his part now it’s us who are still live to work hard and change our community. He will be greatly missed He was a great Leader and helper of the poor. MHSRIP. :((

  5. He was a great human being. So full of energy for a 65 yrs old. His work with the youth and at Mission press will never be forgoten. Neither will his voice for the poor and suffering. Go well. Despite being born from a foreign country his works made him more Zambian than most of us. MHSRIP

  6. To be honest, i think practiced hatred against RB and had no respect for that authority. These are not bibilical and if i have to appriase him based on what i saw outwardly, he together with Father Bwalya and Mmembe are evil person deserving to go to hell. RB remains alive and living on his retirement and God has once again demonstrated his power.

    • Something is seriously wrong with your head. How can you mock the dead that have contributed immensely to the well being of mankind. What have you contributed to Zambia Mr US objective apart from being an arm chair critic? Shame on you. 

  7. we have lost a great priest. to die at 65 is not related to proposed retirement date pa z,what is important is the outstanding contribution to national development. MHSRIP, JENKINS

  8. Its sad that this guy is remembered for wrong reasons all together, i thought he was apriest for Christ and had to be remember for advancing the gospel, announce about the second coming of his master.jst what is the role of a priest if i may ask….maybe am mistaken thats what he was trained to do….

    • Good observation,but not with today’s christianity.They are not using the Bible .Being a christ follower is not about improving physical lives of pipo in the community but preach,teach and uphold moral uprightness.Live by what you teach and use scripures well.Look at that TB fimo fimo,he is amgician fine-but he is talking about a union to be formed by former presidents!!

    • The work of God is both the gospel and helping the others to live a good life.Jesus he cured he fed he spoke .Fr Miha preached the gospel and helped others……Thats the work of a Priest what would you need apart from that.which church do you to……

  9. I first saw Fr.Miha when he came to visit our church(st.Nicholas parish),in Chambishi, together with other Franciscan friars around 1990-91 thereabout.The liturgical animation that day was inspiring.By then, I was still in the youth group.Now, having studied and worked in west africa(Benin, Nigeria, and Ghana) and the US(Peoria) in the last 11 years, I only came to meet Fr.Miha again last year, when I came home for holiays.A sad moment indeed.I will pray for him, together with many other known and unknown men and women who have gone before us, as we celebrate All-souls’day, on Wednesday(Nov 2nd).

  10. #10 objective, change your name because you’re anything but…..Fr. Miha did not hate Rupiah but hated his selfish, corrupt and indulgent ways. I am sure he would tell you the same if he were to speak, MHSRIP.

  11. #10 You are evil like RB. Fr MIHA has died happy knowing what he was fighting for was achieved thruogh PF victory. Follow you HIPPOpotamus to Lwangwa River! You have no respect for the dead or human beings. He preached no CORRUPTION!

  12. If he hated the works of rb. Are the works of the cobra good? As long as i live i will hate the works of one priest by the name of frank bwalya. Mind u am a die hard catholic

  13. Father rest in Peace. You paid school fees for my entire family. You even paid for college as a Dental Therapist. Through Mukaba Awards you have raised the DMK, Glorious Band and many more. You helped MUVI TV to broadcast the campaign programs on the Copperbelt. You paid well anyone who contributed to challenge magazine. 

    The list is endless. You have helped many people and spoke on behalf of the voiceless. Your Contribution in the information bill will soon be into law.

    Rest in Peace father

  14. Awe ba FR Mwabifya ngatwisa landako ikibemba. Mwende umutende ba Father wesu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ba FR abaibela, ukwenda ni pamakasa konse konse.

  15. May his soul rest in peace. Heaven rejoices when the faithfull die. He lived his life sharing it with the poor. I remember when we really suffered in Ndola in the 90’s how he used to help us at Franciscan Centre. A true man of God. He’s gone too soon,he shud hav leaved to help more poor people. I wl forever remember him. Rest in peace Father Miha.

  16. No one knew the dark side of this man. For those who praise him, let him remain an angel to you but for those he hurt, forgiveness may not be enough.

  17. Uwakwisano and Shamabalakale, you may say as you wish it remains unbibilical to practice hatred and to disrespect authority. Death has shown you guys that it is not Miha who shud judge RB but God. Like it, cry as you wish, the guy is not coming back. He gave victory to PF yes. What about the 57% who didnt vote for PF? Are they not zambians and evidently not being cartered for in this NOT all inclusive govt? HE IS DEAD.

  18. @Objective, you do not know anything about Fr. Miha and the best for you is to keep quiet, I have worked under Fr. Miha and have known him for a little more than 3 years, and I can bet my life on it, he never hated RB and for your own information, as far as I know he was impartial, each time I talked to him, he categolically proved to me that he never supported any individual party, but has always wanted the good for the poor. Fr. Miha mingled with the poorest in the community, he was paying for thousands of people in school fees something very difficult for any human being.. a lot of people have uncertain futures now…and we can only say GOD HELP US…Please Obective or whatever you are just keep quiet….

  19. @Munyono, there are 2 greatest comandments given to us by our Lord Jesus “Love your God with all your all strength, with all your heart, with all your soul and mind, then love your neighbour as yourself” To love is to do services for others and that is the ultimate work of a Priest….feed the hungly, buld shelters for the homeless and that is what Fr. Miha did through his life, if you honestly look at his work while on earth, you will struggle to find a person like him in Zambia. I know there may be a few like him…but honestly he was just one of the few…

  20. We have lost two great priests Fr. Miha & Bishop Duffy – they both fought for one thing, the betterment of the power unempowered Zambians. What have we learnt from these two?? How do we remember them?? Eulogies & memorials will not be good enough!! THE BEST MEMORIAL WILL BE TO FIGHT INJUSTICE IN OUR SOCIETY AS THEY DID, A WELL AS BEING SELFLESS – IT IS A TEST OF US ALL – they have happened to leave us at a time we have been able to change our political direction – WE SHOULD REMAIN IN THE DRIVING SEAT AS CITIZENS, & GET THE POLITICIANS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR SOCIETY, WE SHOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE – NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH CRIME!!! This will be the best memorial for these two fearless men, who spent their lives fighting for the betterment of ours!!

  21. Thumbs up to God for bestowing fair judgement on deceptive Priests such as Bishop Duffy and Fr. Miha. A clique of Duffy, Bwalya, Miha, Bishops Banda and Mpundu constituted the greatest axis of evil against many innocent Zambians under the cover of priesthood. This clique schemed a Rwandan-style of genocide for Mother Zambia. Relicts of Bishop Duffy’s plots are still at play to cause confusion as to whether the concept of Barotseland will crystallise into a Lozi Kingdom or Republican status. The Nkoyas are fully alert to the schemes. May Duffy’s and Miha’s Souls Rot in Hell. God’s judgement must be respected.

  22. @ objecctive, Munyono and Awe tata. Whatever your political affiliations are, please if you know anything about God, stop insulting the memory of Fr. Miha. It is unfair to men, women and children that Fr. Miha demonstrated the act of God to. His main preaching was” love is never love until you give it away”. Fr. Miha helped the concellation of debt for Zambia, he was very instrumental in bringing democracy to our government. He continuously preached freedom of speech and expression in art and media. When most hospitals in Zambia didnt have essential medicines, father Miha found a way of providing them to the poor. More than 300 000 pupils and students along with there families benefited from his programms. If u dont know anything of Fr. Miha, you have no right to express your false ideas

  23. It really pains me to see how shallow minded some pipo can be..surely can you bring politics in someones death? why would God take the lives of his servants just to protect the lives of corrupt pipo like Rupia? pipo bliv me our God is a very fair God.Rest in peace Fr Miha….You so cod objective keep quiet if nothn sensible can come out of you mouth…

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