Thursday, March 28, 2024

Church threaten never to officiate at Church Services where political cadres are present

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PF cadres during their attack on UPND members at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
PF cadres during their attack on UPND members at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.

The three Church mother bodies have expressed deep sadness at the recent rampant political violence that has rocked the country.

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) said in a joint statement that what happened recently at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is unprecedented and a great shame to this God-fearing nation.

They state that the fact that the violence was spearheaded by the Patriotic Front (PF) cadres who only a few months ago were on the receiving end of such violence makes them wonder if this is truly the change Zambians wanted.

They said the manner of the violence at the Cathedral suggests pre-meditated and planned behavior adding that the action was evil and wrong.

They said they are deeply dissatisfied as Church mother bodies with the reactions from the PF leadership.

“What we have heard so far is too little, too late and very half-hearted indeed. Feeble reactions such as what we have heard send a wrong message to cadres. We expected robust condemnation from the ruling party. The PF as the party in Government needs to demonstrate that it is a party that does not condone violence, even under extreme provocation. [pullquote] Feeble reactions such as what we have heard send a wrong message to cadres. We expected robust condemnation from the ruling party. The PF as the party in Government needs to demonstrate that it is a party that does not condone violence, even under extreme provocation[/pullquote]

The PF party can afford to be magnanimous. Doing so will endear them to the wider Zambian public.”

The Church mother bodies also called upon the leadership of the Zambia Police Service to be non-partisan and execute their duties of maintaining law and order in a professional manner.

“We feel extremely let down by our men and women in uniform,” the statement said.

They said the Police should uphold the law at all times regardless of who the perpetrators are.

“On our part as Church mother bodies, we are resolved to remain non-partisan and we take some delight and pride in bringing people from all walks of life and political persuasions together. We are committed to providing time and space for all Zambians to reason and pray together in the spirit of “One Zambia, One Nation.”

Indeed, our Churches should be that neutral space which brings all people on an equal basis, in the presence of God. This sacred space should not be invaded by partisan politics nor hijacked by people with selfish motives. In order to maintain a solemn atmosphere imbued with a sense of national unity, we hereby declare that any Church Service hosted by the said three Church Mother Bodies shall not condone any form of politicking.”  [pullquote]As Churches, we cannot sit by and watch our Churches being desecrated and turned into battle grounds for political opponents bent on mischief and shameful acts of violence.[/pullquote]

The Church mother bodies have since declared that political cadres shall not be tolerated anywhere near or inside the churches before, during and after the official service of worship.

“We shall also not tolerate any party regalia such as T-shirts, Chitenges, caps, and the like to be worn during Church Services. We urge all political parties to co-operate with us and restrain their cadres from attending Church services in political attire.”

“As Churches, we cannot sit by and watch our Churches being desecrated and turned into battle grounds for political opponents bent on mischief and shameful acts of violence. In future, we shall not in any way officiate at Church Services where political cadres are present and are behaving in an uncultured and indisciplined manner.”

22 COMMENTS

    • “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
      (Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

  1. This why some people suffer from headaches after thinking. How can a Church inspect how people are dressed? Is the church going to form its own Police force to tear gas the sinners and PF’s Sata-nic members?
    I wonder what Fr. Bwalya or Rev. Shikapwasha will think about this kind of Church’s judgement day.

  2. PF should take a lead in bringing this issue which they created while in opposition.There was nothing like this till PF came into existance.The church should stand strong on this issue. Till the days of John the baptist the church has suffered violence and the violent take by force.

  3. PF should take a lead in bringing this issue TO AN END which they created while in opposition.There was nothing like this till PF came into existance.The church should stand strong on this issue. Till the days of John the baptist the church has suffered violence and the violent take it by force.

  4. Well done at last will have some sanity at these funerals. You should have gone a step further as to ban Politicians from giving Political speeches and campaigning inside the house of GOD.
    there should be a time and place for everything not all the time politics. And to the Police you ought to be ashamed of yourselves especially the Rev JERE, Man of God you are a let down to the faith, the money and power has blinded you, you no longer a man of God to many, you should be ex communicated from your church for your action, i hope one day you realise this particalar sin you commiting. You should repent Jere modern day JUDAS.

  5. all the three PF propaganda machines (the post, times and daily mail) have not carried anything about this joint statement from the three church mother bodies. what are they hiding? they don’t want people to know how brutal the regime they support have become. thank GOD we have online publications and few non partisan radio stations who report the truth

  6. So be it, who gets the appearance fee that these guys pay you when officiating at such functions? You are paid, its not like you do it for free.

  7. only fools will want to kill more people at a funeral,not long from now,i see a situation where political funerals wil be lead by hired pastors for a lump-some fee.Shame on the stupid *****s who cause violency in exchange for a 50 pin,thats what povery does anywonly fools will want to kill more people at a funeral,not long from now,i see a situation where political funerals wil be lead by hired pastors for a lump-some fee.Shame on the stupid *****s who cause violency in exchange for a 50 pin,thats what povery does anyway

  8. papers are ready by 20:30 hrs hrs and u expect miracles to happen for the headline

  9. The problem we have in Zambia is that of political prostituism. The violent ones migrated from UNIP to MMD and later to PF. Those who have been denied space by their violent colleagues are the remnants in MMD and UPND. I therefore, appeal to any ruling party to deny entry to any party cadre with a track record of violence. Let violent cadres remain in the opposition so that the police can deal with them squarely. A ruling party should be beyond reproach and always set a good example.

  10. The violence at churches is a result of mixing politics and religion. Only the separation of religion and politics will stop this nonsense. Those of us who can read the history of Arabia, Europe, America and Asia will realize that in Africa you really do not want religion and politics to mix.

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