Government has learnt with regret the reported violence in Lusaka’s Matero Township yesterday.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said although government does not subscribe to the aims and ideas of organisations that were behind the meeting in Matero, it unreservedly condemns the violence that was reported to have occurred yesterday.Mr Sakeni said in as much as the PF government will uphold and defend rights of every citizen, clergymen should also avoid being partisan in discussing matters of national importance.
Press Statement in Full
Statement by Hon.Kennedy Sakeni Chief Government spokesman on violence that rocked Matero township yesterday
Government has learnt with regret the reported violence in Lusaka’s Matero township yesterday. Although the Government does not subscribe to the aims and ideals of the organisations that were behind the meeting in Matero, we would like to unreservedly condemn the violence that is reported to have occurred yesterday.
This type of hooliganism cannot be condoned in a democratic society like ours. We therefore call upon all law enforcement agencies to ensure that they leave no stone unturned and bring all culprits behind this barbaric action to book.
May I seize this opportunity to reiterate that the PF Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata believes in democratic and peaceful exchange of ideas between dissenting sections of society.
On the other hand, in as much as the PF Government will uphold and defend the rights of every citizen, we would like to advise members of the clergy against using houses of worship for occasions that are clearly political and inimical to the peace and good order of the Republic. We would also wish to advise the Clergy to avoid being partisan in discussing matters of national importance.
The Government stands ready to hear the views of both those who are for or against the removal of subsidies but the expression of these views must be done in an orderly, peaceful and non-partisan manner bearing in mind the best interests of the Republic of Zambia.
Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
1st June, 2013
Asryt ! Spot on.Now somebody who is thinking like me.Give to caesar what belong to caesar and to God what belongs to God.No politics in the church please because people go there to receive the word of God and not to hear political views.
iwe ulichipuba sana te??? dont you know that evem christians have a voice?? they should also be worried about the removal of subsidies…think..PF is always in church announcing their policies…
@Dora
Good points there…
and what happened to the biblical ten commandments on which PF was going to govern the nation???,,, so the church should in the mix of politics
@dora ha ha ha.Ichipuba it is you who can`t debate minus using insults.Using that language doesn`t make you look smarter to just shows that you parents didnt raise you well.Go back into that hole you crawled out from.
At what moment in human history do you imagine the church hasn’t been a part of politics?
peter ndhlovu forgot ftj is no longer there to tolerate holier than thou fake clergy milking the public with sweet talk. Why try to make a name out of nothing. This is the same bishop who supported RB left right centre so whats he talking about.
Mr. Sakeni, have you also advised our courts and the chief justice not to be partisan all disputes pertaining to election results are handled professionally?
Read the book of Kings and Chronicles and you will understand that every knee and every tongue has to bow to the name of Jesus including Politics. God desires Godly God fearing Kings with Godly character when in public and when not ,also learn how the ungodly Kings ended.
Where are we going to?
The other day Sata was at the Cathedral of The Holy Cross in Lusaka with K. Kaunda and Sata even insulted Grey Zulu, calling him Blue Zulu. Sata talked about HH, Nevers Mumba and Fr. Bwalya.
– I wonder if Cathedral is a parliament
– I wonder if Jesus Christ had apostles named Kaunda & Grey Zulu
– I wonder every-time Sata enters a church, they give him time to address congregants, is a preacher, a priest or secretary to church council at St. Ignatius?
Ba Sakeni, I spare you because you need to go to Church tomorrow to repent for insulting the clergy.
This more than too much, I only said Sata was at Cathedral of Holy Cross the other day with KK & Grey Zulu. He was in-sighting that the cathedral was only for white people, black clergy used to convene in Matero.
So why ka Chellah warning me all the way from Japan? Tukamona nga mwabwela, Lesa ni Malyotola.
Any version of my comments are declined, you PF knows what you did by beating people in church is treasonous, that’s why you can’t swallow hard comments. Lets wait for Sata.
Ndlovu its either you are a politician or a Bishop not both.Come out if you want to join politics like Mumba and Bwalya not using the house of the Lord for political gain.Come out in the name of Jesus!
so its only good and okay.. when the church takes partisan line by supporting PF???? NONSENSE!!!!
This chap wants to hide in the church!!! He wants to be abusing his members for his selfish political motives. NO WONDER HIS MEETING WAS SHUNNED BY MOST MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH! I passed through-there was only a handful of people mostly reporters!!!!!! SHAME ON YOU NDLOVU..!! You are such a HYPOCRITE.
The church and politics have always been intertwined – since time immemorial, the world over.
If you want to control the populace, you tap into their belief system – the church.
Wrong move PF. You really hit the wrong button this time. Lets see what you do in Mtendere next black Friday.
The world is watching – and most keenly, Zambians in the diaspora. These days Zambians in the diaspora cannot be ignored – they have powerful positions and connections. Take Heed.
Don’t be myopic. The church has been involved in politics of the day always. Take South Africa as a reference, what was Archbishop Tutu or Rev Allan Boesak leading protests in the apartheid days? Funny how when the church supports some government policy, no one in government protests. Let the same church voice out dissent on another issue, the church is vilified. Had the government not stopped the planned march at the Freedom Statue there would have been no need for the congregation to meet at the church premises. What is the government afraid of in allowing its people exercise their human rights?
When PF ministers use the pulpit to espouse Government policy it is okay. But when the church says it does not like certain Government policies then they are being used by disgruntled opposition politicians. What is inimical about the church saying people may starve following the removal of mealie-meal and fuel subsidies? The problem is PF have been caught up in their own web of lies. The reality is they have over spent on a bloated Government, by-elections, overzealous recall and replacement of diplomats and creation of new districts.
Who knew one day Gadaffi would be no more,who knew one day Hussein Mubarak would lose his power,who knew Idi Amini would lose his power ,who knew Mobutu Sese Seko would be no more.Psalm 37 v 1 says Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
This nonsense of reciting bible verses will take you no where.The pipo you claim are no more are no more because of positive action and not citing tuma bible verses
With due respect Mr.Minister where do you want people to go to?
UPND,Black Friday organisers applied to have it in public you denied them the permit.
Not long ago Mr.Winter Kabimba was in United Church of Zambia(UCZ) Church in feira and donated money even said political statement.Is winter not a Politician?
The catholic church which has brought us this trouble campaigned in church in the name of Frank Bwalya,Mpundu etc.
You have failed minister on the elements of a democratic society.Kindly find time and ready on the essential elements of a democratic society.
Can movie or ZNBC T.V play the Chanda Chimba the III documentaries.
Cry my beloved country.PF is taking us to Zimbambwe.
@khoms
At this point its difficult to critisize or engage the Minister because the press release was written by someone else,,,the minister knows deep down himself what happened in matero was wrong,,, but he on lockdown from the bosses in japan
so its only good and okay.. when the church takes partisan line by supporting PF???? NONSENSE!!!!
What about those intedenominatonal prayers held at the cathedral of the holy cross.Wasn’t it recent there were prayers held with the president and some political leaders there? Are you rather saying if people do not support the governement they should not pray in their churches.We do not approve of the subsidy removal thats why we are praying.
Martin Luther King was a Christian who stood against injustices by using a peaceful revolution.
Well said Honorable Minister, we must never as country entertain characters who are wolves in sheep’s skin!!!! IF NDLOVU WANTS TO ENTER POLITICS LET HIM FORM APOLITICAL PARTY LIKE THIS BWALYA HAS DONE!!! You can’t have it both ways.
PF slowly losing it. Too bad for the party I believed in.
When the Catholic Church openly campaigned for PF in church no MMD hooligans attacked us so what are you saying? We are watching you PF.
There is so much wrong here where to begin?
1) “Government has learnt with regret…” Regret… REGRET?!? Is that all, why not condemn your partisan terrorists?
2) “Government stands ready to hear the views of those who are for or against but must be done in an orderly, peaceful and non-partisan way.” Was the church being UNRULY? Sure? OK, how do you talk against PF policy w/o being “partisan”? Sakeni tells us MCS “believes” in a democratic society so why DOESN’T he believe in being partisan? Sakeni is partisan!
And most of all:
3) “We wish to advise the Clergy to avoid being partisan in discussing matters of national importance.” Serious? The church has always (ALWAYS!) been a part of politics throughout human history! To pretend or (dictate!) otherwise will lead…
….nowhere.
I don’t get this. Why do we have political violence when we have a multiparty state where divergent political views should be expressed freely? If the vigilantes did not go to that church, was there going to be any violence and how were the prayers going to affect the removal of subsidies? Someone please explain. I don’t understand this whole issue. Can economics teachers teach the word ” consumer subsidy” ‘ its advantages and disadvantages or they risk being beaten up?
I cannot believe I am reading this kind of hogwash from a minister,,,,,, okay I lie, I can believe. they do it everyday, it!s their trademark
Do you mean to tell us that hunger is partisan? Because whether you like it or not, this will be the final outcome and the church has the responsility of standing for the poor. Whether pf or opposition everyone is now vulnerable to hunger and hardship
I cannot for the life of me comprehend why Zambians can allow people to insult their collective intelligence with such impunity………still because we are peaceful. No my friend, you are not peaceful, thats just an excuse for your lethargy!
Indeed we were better off with the devil we knew (MMD). Is it the school factor missing now or what?
My goodness.. Me and my family just jumped out of the boat. Keep paddling guys but beware that you are approaching Victoria falls.
ba minister dont take God for a fool. it is not long when kabimba your general secretary was cited making donations in the church in luangwa, the same offence you have used to disqualify chipata saet with your compromised judiciary.
namukula umutwe you cant beat every one we are geting ready for a shocking episode.
Why didn’t you advise them before the beat down in matero?
Where will people in the opposition meet from….. Chipimo was arrested for holding a meeting at a lodge on the Copperbelt, Government does not allow opposition parties to hold outdoor meetings or rallies….and now they cant even meet in a church???????
PF is a mistake we should never make again!!!!!
You can’t dictate what people should or should not say in church. Besides, the church itself has a pastrol role – to show compassion, condemn injustices and provide the confidence and hope that people need to fight evil. Instead of concentrating on the major issue of the disgusting violence that was pepetrated by his vermin, Sakeni chooses to pretend that the choice of the meeting venue is more signficant – hence justifying the violence in spite of the feeble attempt to show ‘regret’. Food, energy, freedom e.t.c. are all political issues. It doesn’t matter where you discuss them.
This is just the beginning. We will beat them hard should they try next Friday. Seleni tubombeko ba mambala. HH 2066
Ubwato bwa bunda!!!!!!!!!! the Boat is capsizing very fast – 2016 is just round the corner!
UPND or any other party will now have a chance – coz the vote will be about getting rid of this evil!!!!!
True religion is no religion
Ndhlovu: isn’t this the power- hungry preacherman who broke away from a main church so that he could have all the tithe to himself?
Yes! Disgruntled politicians like Peter Ndhlovu, shi-Iris, Nyirenda,etc
As I said yesterday, if indeed its the PF cadres who beat the bishops and preachers , then their act was very barbaric. The PF leadership must tame their ruthless cadres and they should know that they will soon lose support of Zambians if they dont change their behaviour. To the victims, they must also stop practicing politics in church, if they are interested in politics they should come out the manner bwalya has done.
Peace and prosperity to mother Zambia.
Iam PF 2 the bone but i cant stand the happenings in our party.
It’s a barbaric act of the worst kind 2 clobber innocent souls who disagree 2 agree with the views espoused by the goverment.
Without much ado i wld like 2 direct the police 2 arrest thoz hooligans within 48hrs.
It should not take longer than the tym i’ve stipulated bcz the little devils were caught on camera
And lasty am dissapointed with mr Sakeni’s sentiments.
Hehehe…..what goes around comes around
Everyone in here is mad, except you and me, but I doubt you.
THE POSITION TAKEN BY BIGOCA CANNOT BE SAID TO BE THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH. WHICH CHURCH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HAVE ALL CHURCHES AGREED WITH THE BLACK FRIDAY? SO THAT WAS JUST A MEETING OF A FEW DISGRUNTLED ELEMENTS WITH A FEW POLITICAL BISHOPS TO ADVANCE THEIR POLITICAL CAUSE. THE ISSUE OF THE REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES IS OLD NOW AND STALE. LETS TALK ABOUT OTHER PROGRESSIVE THINGS. THOSE ORGANISERS THOUGHT THEY CAN ARM-TWIST THE GOVERNMENT BY BRINGING CHAOTIC DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT THEY HAVE LAMENTABLY FAILED. THERE IS PEACE IN ZAMBIA. BUT THESE PEOPLE WANT VIOLENCE. WHAT TYPE OF LEADERS WISH VIOLENCE FOR THEIR COUNTRY. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES MEANS TIGHTENING OUR BELTS FOR A BETTER ZAMBIA. WE CAN ENGANGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATES ON HOW TO USE THE SAVINGS.
why is your comment in capital letters? are you bitter also?
@Ndobo, leave Chisenga shout, he is PF. Even Sata’s signature is in capital letters.
@nostradamus
hahahahaha thanks bro…
i didnot know SATA`S SIGNATURE is in capital letters
Lying through his teeth in the presence of GOD, What a SIN. This man has a terrible job that will land him in hell. WHAT A SAD ENDING AWAITS HIM
TO HELL WITH YOUR SATANIC GOVT!!!
ANYBODY WHO IS AGAINST GOD BELONGS TO THE DEVIL. WHEN YOU ATTACK PEOPLE WHO ARE WORSHIPPING GOD THEN YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR THE DEVIL. VIVA BLACK FRIDAY!!! THE BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD. LET US
ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME …SOON and VERY SOON
Who knew one day Kamuzu Banda, Keneth Kaunda, Gadaffi would be no more,who knew one day Hussein Mubarak would lose his power,who knew Idi Amini would lose his power ,who knew Mobutu Sese Seko would be no more.
Psalm 37 v 1 says Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Iwe ChiSakeni, how about, “The clergy strongly advise PF government NOT to mix politics and governance with thuggery.”
BaPF, is this what you were going to do with money saved from subsidies? Paying thugs to practice violence against the masses? This is just unacceptable in a democratic society like ours.
I didn’t like MMD but those were angels when compared to these hoodlums and cutthroats in government…MMD was way better than these assassins.
Mr Sakeni says he condemns the violence by PF cadres and promises to bring the perpetrators to book and as expected he repeats the popular phrase, ‘ The PF GRZ under the leadership of his excellency Michael Sata..blah blah blah’….
Come on Mr Sakeni stop behaving like a parrot, the people are bored by your rhetoric. You have taken Zambians for granted for far too long.
The fact that the PF thugs arrived in hired buses tells it all, some top PF leader organised it all. They may be ‘arrested’ but within hours strong orders will come from the very top to have them released and that will be the end of story. Zambians are not daft they have lived with this trend since October 1964. Mr Sakeni you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
What is this mad man on about?They used the catholic church to spread their 90 days lies.Now that they are in power ,they have shredded the rule book on the rule of law and replaced it selective justice.If you are PF you will get justice and if you are not PF,you can never receive justice.The is why UKWA does not subscribe to ICJ because he knows what he is doing.
he will have to pray hard that uncle bob is still in power come 2016, as that will be his only safe haven, coz we will fly to the hague in the presido jet!!!!!
politicians are crooks I mean all politicians they can use anything to achieve their goal they are just like business men; ; Matthew 21:13 Jesus said my house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves church leaders need to be very careful about politicians , or we may hear churches being burnt down
Read the book of Kings and Chronicles and you will understand that every knee and every tongue has to bow to the name of Jesus including Politics. God desires Godly God fearing Kings with Godly character when in public and when not ,also learn how the ungodly Kings ended.
Martin Luther King was a devout christian who brought about a peaceful revolution.
So wait ,MCS can go to church and act holy then go out and do contrary to christian teachings yet the church is not to condemn and counsel what its wayward flock does? No wonder MCS finds no hypocrisy doing what he used to condemn RB’s govt for doing.
Next time I attend any meet I will be packing my gun and any cadre who tries to attack me will get his brain blown out and his guts will be all over the place.
I meant to say “Next time I attend any meeting…..”
Only Mature Peaceful solutions and a revolution is needed, maybe a signed petition to SADC,AU and international bodies is also needed by Zambians, otherwise you may end up at the Hague with those cadres.
Baza kulonga po chebe ba mambala aba!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a shame. This government is becoming less democratic each day that passes by. Who are you to condemn people from attending worship places for political reasons? In the USA many politicians go and campaign in the churches? Have you ever heard of them being attacked? Politicians in the USA do give political speeches in churches. As peace loving Zambians, let us be democratic and let the freedom of speech prevail in the country. I myself do not believe in mixing politics and religion, but whatever people choose to do as long as it is not interfering with the security and the laws of the country. Why attack and condemn them? The government should condemn those attackers and punish them. Simply to say that the clergy should avoid worship places for political reasons is appalling.
Where they worshipping The God in that assembly of wolves?
God’s house is not for the worldly word!
Clear your eyes and see beyond some so-called bishops
Christians are also affected by political decisions my dear, so open your eyes too. They were not campaigning against the pf government per se but against one topic the removal of subsidies that will have an effect on their flock. Most church elders are closer to the ordinary citizens than politicians.
And here lies the paradox of the declaration of Zambia a Christian Nation. The declaration was made by an elected politician who by declaring such, involved himself in a cocktail of Christian/political philosophies.
When a drunken blood shot, fat necked politician, with lisping tones makes a pronouncement on a political platform that Zambia is a Christian Nation for political expediency, that’s OK, when this same chap goes in a Church, donates money and uses the pulpit in telling the Church to help explain the removal of subsidies to the people, its still OK
When the Church agrees and takes up the challenge to explain the matter in a Church building, it becomes a problem and hoards of machete wielding thugs are unleashed on them. Oh how ironical!
You have hit the nail on its head!!! Let those with eyes read and with ears hear!!!
Going by the way the said violence was done (lightly)and the way those against pf have voiced(questionable)i can easily tell that those cadres were mmd and upnd ones, organised by kaingu.Police investigate this .lt is true so as 2 turn pf evil .
To u genuine pf members. l must warn u that these from either upnd or mmd u have received some of them are snakes .’If u can’t overcome them, join them and distroy them from within,’.so they say. Can’t u see this?Pf be warned.
The govt has appologised and ordered the police to bring those to book but they have ignored this. Be carefull pf please.Becarefull with these cadres dat were in mmd especially.!Andrew in Chawama do not let dunderheads ,who sit in yo office b dere.
If genuine members are fully aware about this violence and u let it go like dat den my support 4 u is dwidling.However,not on account of de removal of subsydies and l can’t support hh or any opposition leader currently.Term the police and cadres .
Police and cadres are yo worst enermies. Why do dey disallow the opposition 2 hold meetings nd rallies? On de other hand the cadres are saying now that u have not allowed them to alocate demselves illegal plots dey would b embarrasing u.B warned!
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