By Rev Kapya Kaoma
On Tuesday, August 28, Archbishop Desmond Tutu declined an invitation to share the same platform with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair at the “Discovery Invest Leadership Summit” in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tutu objected that Blair’s “morally indefensible” decision to attack Iraq made it awkward for him to share the same platform with him. At first, I found such a response very far-reaching. Afterwards, I realized that Tutu’s position is an invitation to hold politicians accountable for their immoral actions and decisions while in office.
But Tutu’s statement also left me wondering about the relationship between the Church and politics in Zambia. Most Christians are apt to argue that the Church should be apolitical. Religious leaders, they insist, should be concerned with sending people to heaven; it is politicians who must worry about what people eat on earth. After all, politics is a dirty game, which religious ministers should avoid at all costs. But as the Iraq war has shown, political actions have severe consequences: they can build or destroy the nation.
Nobody doubts the dirtiness of politics especially when left unchecked. Yet, it is this filthy game that determines who eats, goes to school and even get medical attention. Equally important is the fact that politics is the key that separates economic prosperity from perpetual poverty, and justice from injustice. Love it or not, politics affects people’s lives. To allow politicians to operate without any checks and balances is like asking starved lions to guard the innocent lambs.
Knowingly or unwittingly, the Church has been instrumental in changing governments in Zambia. UNIP, MMD and now PF worked closely with the Church to get to power. Sadly, the moment these parties got power, they either worked to bribe the Church into ultimate silence or side-lined those religious leaders who refused to be bought. President Chiluba’s relationship with Fr. Umberto, the famous former editor of the Catholic Magazine Icengelo is a good example. At the time when everyone was afraid of Kaunda’s UNIP regime and the print media was highly controlled, Umberto managed to publish articles that presented Chiluba as the “man” strong enough to oppose super Ken. No sooner did Chiluba get to State house than he dismissed Umberto’s voice. Chiluba surrounded himself with pastors who saw him as a “Man of God” sent to liberate Zambia from the demons of UNIP; thus infallible in all his decisions and policies. The Roman Catholic Church and Fr. Frank Bwalya’s relationship with the PF government seem to follow this pattern as well.
[pullquote]Injustice is like a tree; it grows with time. We watch it grow and only want to cut when it has matured.Church leaders should not pretend to be non-partisan when it comes to poverty and injustice in the nation.[/pullquote]
In Zambia, it pays to support the ruling party; after all, the president is the bank of endless cash. Usually, brown envelopes accompany presidential or political officials’ visits to local Churches, making such visits income generating ventures. No wonder, we, the religious leaders are the last ones to stand up against bad governance by government officials. Yet we should remember that injustice is like a tree; it grows with time. We watch it grow and only want to cut when it has matured. Imagine the resources and the lives we would have saved if we cut it when it was still small. Do we really need another 4 more years to see that the PF government has departed from its democratic obligations and promises it made in 2011? Is the continuous harassment of Hakainde Hichilema’s UPND party really justified? Why is the Church so silent on these issues?
It is God’s people who voted PF in power and their voices should be heard in all matters of governance. For politician to ignore the plight of the masses while giving themselves billions of Kwachas is absurd. The PF government knows the root causes of Zambia’s social and economic dire straits. When he was in opposition, President Sata repeatedly cited political greed and corruption as behind Zambia’s growing poverty. Despondently, this political gluttonous situation is increasing under the PF government and the Church is busy watching!
Let me put it this way: Church leaders should not pretend to be non-partisan when it comes to poverty and injustice in the nation. Politicians are stealing from God’s people; the cries and tears of the poor are visible to those who have eyes to see. That child going to bed without food, dying because the hospital has no drugs, denied a place to join the army because s/he has no money to bribe the officers and even arrested for supporting the opposition party is a lovely child of God. Demanding the rights of such a person is within the framework of the ministry of the Church.
I fully understand that the bible calls us to pray for those in authority. However, I wonder how many Christians will close their eyes and pray when a criminal is breaking into their brother’s house. I guess the first reaction is to fight the “thief” before thanking God for defending our brother/sister’s property. As sister’s and brother’s keepers, the Church has a spiritual mandate to defend the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters – the poor and the oppressed. Sadly in Africa, the prophetic voice of Nigerian legendary musician Fela Kuti in “Coffin for Head of State” still echoes true; behind that corrupt African dictator, politician or business executive, there is a respectable Christian bishop or Muslim Imam. How I wish our bishops can emulate Desmond Tutu for once!
Touching indeed! Father Bwalya seem to hav lost it afterall. Sata behaves like he has not known him before. How, i wish Tutu could come and preach the word to the clergy in zambia. Nowonder Petersen came HARD with Job13:13. Heed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This a well presented article and should call us to action. Let us not just support our parties even when we see they are in the wrong.
Eeeeeeee boooooooomu iyiiiiiiiiii!
Church leaders have a social responsibility to protect the interests of the masses and its why its unwise for politicians to want to confine them only to pulpit. Way to go Tutu, you are my hero!
Circus in church. Blessing a demon filled man using outstretched hands of demon filled congregants. Zambia my motherland!!!
Eish!!!!
LOL funny but so true. An evil, cunning and shrewd politician, kneeling down for bogus prayers! A chap who condones corruption, nepotism and has fathered kids with 4 different women!!!
Yes,hold ’em accountable Reverend Kaoma.All they do is trade insults that so and so is envious or bitter instead of focusing on issues and delivering clean water,schools and other services to the ignored zambian voter.Its both morally & politically indefensible.
Obviously this rev is bitter……
It is not always that I respond to people’s rantings to my articles. If I am bitter, it is due to the suffering of my people. Thanks for reading.
Have read this man’s articles and if he lives what he preaches, he is headed for the noble peace prize in future. Please continue talking to all the politicians, chiefs and most of all our young people.
WHICH CHURCH DOES HH ATTEND? STILL A FREE MANSON LIKE MAZOKA? JUST ASKING BECAUSE I KNOW SATA IS CATHOLIC, MWANAWASA WAS BAPTIST AFTER LEAVING JEHOVAHS WITNESSES, CHILUBA WAS PENTECOST. PLEASE GOD DO NOT GIVE US A SATANIST FOR PRESIDENT. NO WONDER SO MUCH HATE AND BITTERNESS. SHAAAAA!!
Well articulated article, sadly such kind and wise words fall on deaf ears of many people. I wonder what it would take for our leaders in the church to emulate the likes of Desmond Tutu. But as the writer has correctly put, politicians are a source of money that keeps our clergy going. Poverty is indeed a root for evil, people will do anything to escape it, but sadly the innocent people always have to pay for it!
Am tired of seeing this Hippocrates ‘s kneeling in churches that’s how ka Chiluba dubed us , these leaders can pretend to be holy but either they are womanisers with a lot of concubines , how I wish many can learn from HH ‘ s humbleness and strong family union ties he is a true leader
He learnt from Chiluba; he worships Mugabe – one wonders how all this mix will play out! One terrible error of appointing RB as VP by LPM has landed us in this culdesac: Sata would NEVER have ascended to plot 1 except for RB terrible shenanigans.
Please mushota where are u. Am at Glasgow central lets meet at calabash for mbuzi Choma
Whilst I agree with some of the sentiments echoed in this article, especially on blind loyalty and turning a blind eye to issues as long as there is something in it for me.
I seriously doubt Bishop Tutu’s Stand. It is a well known fact that Saddam killed his own people. Someone surely had to stand up to defend those innocent Kurds who were being brutally murdered. Can U imagine Gasing someone just because he does not agree with You.
History is littered with men like Blair and Bush who stood up for the minority despite the consequences. Otherwise this World would be only for the strong.
Let us therefore stand up and be counted wherever there is Injustice.
What are the statistics? How many of his own people did Saddam Hussein slaughter compared to the hundres of thousands that George Bush and Tony Blair’s mindless was kill? The fact of the matter is that George Bush’s mindless war on Iraq did not only kill Saddam Hussein. It accounts for the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives who have been killed in the cross fire. You mean the only way to have taken Saddam Hussein was to go to war and not take him out by a snipper bullet? If Saddam was the problem, you mean George Bush could not have used the Obama style on Osama Bin Ladden? Was that war really necessary? Where were the weapons of mass destruction that Bush had claimed as the reason for going to war??????
The Issue with Bush and Blair is that they lied about weapons of mass destruction. This was the reason that they invaded Iraq, they claimed that Saddam had these weapons despite being told by there own experts that they did not exist. As we now all know, the weapons of mass destruction didnt exist and the whole thing was fabricated. In my opinion Robert Mugabe is no different to Saddam Hussain, how many people has he been responsible for killing?? I agree with what Bishop Desmond Tutu did, Blair and Bush should be tried for war Crimes !
Yes Saddam no doubt killed so many Iraqs. But how many have been killed since the country was “liberated” by the Americans? More Iraqs have been killed since the so called liberation than during Saddams reign. The only difference is that those killed now are called terrorists and not Iraqs. It is said that history is written by the victorious side, how so true and sad……
Blair and Bush stood up for the minority!kekekeke whatever this chap is drinking I’ll have triple barman!!
Just to Bring it back home. If Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was not brave enough and had also behaved like Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, where would Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa be today. The struggle had consequences, people died in Mkushi and elsewhere, Infrastructure was destroyed, But look at today we are happy to see these countries free!!!!!. Dr Kaunda and his generation including Nyerere could not afford to standby and watch others suffer.
My foot! This is what has made this country poor.Look everyone in any position is either thinking of stealing or is deep into stealing because of poverty or wanting to stay afloat with good living.
The people should hold politicians to account.
I MAY AGREE WITH YOU ON ONE OR TWO ISSUES BUT I DEFINITELY DON’T AGREE THAT HH IS BEING HARASSED. HH HAS PROBLEMS CREATED BY HIMSELF. FIRST HE IS ENTRUSTED BY THE STATE TO LIQUIDATE PUBLIC COMPANIES, HE UND ER VALUES SOME PREFERRED ONES TO SUIT HIS POCKETS AND BUYS THEM HIMSELF (cutting a cake and eating it yourself), HE THRIVES ON CORPSES AND EVEN WRONGLY. MAZOKA DIES HE OCCUPIES PARTY PRESIDENCY ON A TRIBAL TICKET, HE MARRIES HIMSELF AND HIS UPND PARTY TO PF (elopes) AFTER CONFIRMING THAT HE’S ACTUALLY UNDER 5 HE RUNS AWAY FROM THE MARRIAGE. SO FOR HH ITS ACTUALLY HIS MENSTRUAL PERIOD THAT HARASSES HIM.
Your inborn hurte for tongas will take u early to your grave. Talk sense iwe stuopeti
Chlinda has to hold himself accountable to begin with
Young Zambians, by that I mean anyone born after 24th October 1964, Remember that Kaunda fought for independence to make himself and his family rich and ignored the suffering of the poor through his lack of knowledge to rule and bu “Muzungu wanga anikonda” . Read “Musakanya papers” and get the truth. Politicians in Zed always fight for power they don’t know how to use. Priest please do not fight for useless Hakainde and his greed, he will take us nowhere.Samsung company cannot invest without feasibility studies no matter how much Sata pleads. Anybody knows this except our beloved Presidend.
How do u know HH is useless?What has Sata done in zambia?Just tell things that have pleased u and are of the benefit of all Zambians?
Good evening
It is not easy to comment on such issues because of the controversial relationship between the church and the state. History is full of examples where the two have joined forces for a common cause – whether good or bad, you can judge for yourself.
The so called “pilgrims” that arrived in America in the 17 Century were religious folks that were escaping from the Anglican Church but themselves ended up forcefully possesing land belonging to the native Indian tribes and enslaving Africans. Other similar events around the world show that the church and state are sometimes one and the same.
However, Christ challenged us to render to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar and render to God what belongs to God.
Tutu please come to Zambia and save the nation. Our pastors are only for money to drive posh cars and educate their families only. No church has discouraged PF and its demonic acts for fear of being demoted,deported,charged etc. Petersen finished it all, he is our only young Tutu so far.
Kapya Kaoma is an Anglican priest from Zambia and project director of Political Research Associates. He is the author of PRA’s October 2009 report, Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African Churches and Homophobia.
666 coming thru PF and catholic church..kwasila..
GOOD ARTICLE.I WISH SATA AND KASEBA WILL READ THIS