Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I start this press conference by wishing those who were injured during the attack at BIGOCA a speedy recovery. I further wish to assure them that as responsible citizens of this country we will not rest until the day the culprits will be held accountable.
Two weeks ago a senior member of the MMD was roughed up and beaten by the PF cadres in full view of the police. Just two days ago the PF cadres again attacked people that gathered to pray for this country and its leadership. This is slowly but surely becoming the order of the day under the PF administration.
The savagery attack on defenseless clergy, members of civil society, opposition political parties and members of the press in the place of worship must be condemned in the strongest possible manner.
As NAREP we condemn what happened in Matero and find it very disturbing and unbelievable that the PF has continued stepping on the rights of the innocent people. The function that was disrupted was neither a political rally nor political meeting but a special church service for men and women of God who had gathered to pray for the many man-made problems this country is facing.
[pullquote]To the PF government, we implore you to, this time around stand up and own up to the misdeeds of your cadres and apologize to the nation and to the church and to the affected people with all seriousness it deserves.[/pullquote] We condemn the actions by the PF cadres and we wish to remind the republican president that he promised to govern this country based on the ten (10) commandments of the Holy Bible. Let this at least be one promise he makes every effort to keep. What we have witnessed in the recent passed is however the exact opposite to what the bible teaches us. Mr. Sata and the PF government have refused completely to listen to the cries of the many Zambians who are struggling to put a meal on the table. The people of Zambia who gave the PF a mandate to govern this country have rejected this violent, aggressive and non-consultative type of leadership by the PF government and it must now be clear even to the PF that it has failed.
We remind the secretary general of the PF Mr. Wynter Kabimba and the PF administration that Zambia does not belong to the few individuals benefiting and having more money in their pockets but to the many Zambians who are not able to afford a decent meal. The PF must be reminded that no political party comes to stay in government. We had UNIP and MMD that held power; the Zambian people were lied to for the sake of getting votes. Bear in mind that your time will come when you will be made to account for your action.
The PF government should tell us if what we are seeing now is the jobs that the youth were promised in 90 days. We cannot continue using innocent young people to attack harmless men and women of God out of pure selfishness. The PF must be assured that sending thugs to attack innocent people is not going to solve the problems that this country is facing. The PF must stop politicking and attacking people and concentrate on delivering development.
As a party that believes in its core values, we hereby register our disappointment and lack of trust in the Zambia Police that is now being used as a security wing of the Patriotic Front. We call upon the Inspector General of police Stella Libongani and her deputy Dr. Solomon Jere to choose between enforcing the law or to resign on moral grounds as they have completely failed to conduct themselves professionally from the time they were appointed to these positions.
As a woman and no doubt a mother, surely her heart should bleed at the events of last week. We wish to remind the police that you are there to protect the citizens of this country and not the PF cadres who are busy beating innocent people. The people of Zambia will never be safe if the police remain toothless or use their powers to frustrate bus drivers and other ordinary citizens who are merely trying to make a living.
We ask the PF to reflect on and remember the reasons they were ushered into power in 2011 and stop stepping on the rights of innocent people. We further wish to remind them that Zambia was declared a Christian nation and therefore we should respect the church regardless of the situation. The PF should allow citizens to gather and worship without any fear.
We demand that the police launch an investigation on the Matero incident and bring the culprits to book without any delay or political interference. We demand for justice and professionalism from the police service in following up this matter.
NAREP would love Mr. Sata to retire and leave in peace come 2016. We will respect, look after him as former head of state, as we embark on creating a new Zambia.
To the PF government, we implore you to, this time around stand up and own up to the misdeeds of your cadres and apologize to the nation and to the church and to the affected people with all seriousness it deserves.
We call upon all well-meaning Zambians and Christians to condemn what the PF is doing and continue praying to God for his intervention before the situation in our country gets out of hand.
Thank you and God be with you.
CHARLES MABOSHE
NAREP VICE PRESIDENT
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I just wish Mr Sata can DIE today. I truly mean this, before innocent lives are lost or Zambians begin to hurt each other.
I don’t think any political party will change this mentality of thugery, especially where they stand to benefit from it. What Zambia needs is CIVIC EDUCATION of all the masses about the concept of DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE.
We need something of the sort that the late LUCY SICHONE started. Please educate our people that: OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE THE SAME AS SOCCER TEAMS WITH THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS:
1. Players shake hands before and after the game irrespective of who wins
2. Players exchanges jeseys after the game
3. Players kick the ball out of play as a sign of FAIR PLAY to allow any injured player to receive medical attention
4. Supporters PEACEFULLY debate and discuss their teams without fear or favour
MAYBE OUR SOCCER CLUBS SHOULD BECOME POLITICAL PARTIES AND SHOW THEM…
The strong involvement of the church in politics should also be condemned, they should choose between serving God or politics. I condeme what happened there but this shud serve as a lesson to those who mix God and politics. Pray for the country and the leadership. You got better things to do like preaching the good news of Jesus that’s were the true rewards are.
Chota, you are aware Moses in the bible was a priestly figure to the children of Israel and a political leader too. The reason why Zambia is where it is,is because the church has not been involved in politics. The Catholic church for example has always had a keen interest in the politic affairs of nations.
In my opinion,it is time we got involved with politics as a church. No one should be limited by their occupation, it is an open platform for all to take part. If a man of God wants to stand, let him stand. I see no reason why we should limit anyone from taking part in politics. Am not saying we vote for a man of God simply cause he claims to serve God,am saying we pick leaders based on their integrity and personality.
IT MATTERS WHO REPRESENTS US!!!
Read the book of Kings and Chronicles,every knee shall bow every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is lord even politics has to bow to the name of Jesus.Learn how Kings who honored God during their reign prospered and were blessed and how Kings who did not honor God ended up,in the books of Kings and Chronicles.
Martin Luther King was a Christian who spoke against injustices and brought about a peaceful revolution.
@ Chota your head is as thick as most of these KAPONYA PF MPs and cadres, who tells you that the Church cannot take part on improving the social life of the people when prices of essential commodities are escalating…the PF depended on the Catholic Church mainly and for its political fortunes…what can you tell us you useless KAPONYA if you cant blog objectively find time to do other things that befit your small useless brain………..
John Voster(Racist President of SA): “Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Allan Borzerk, stop calling for equal treatment of all people in your churches, you are involving yourself in politics, stop it!”
IAN Douglas Smith: (Racist Prime Minister of Rhodesia) “Bishop Muzorewa and Rev Canaan Banana, stop calling for one man one vote because you are religious leaders and shouldn’t practice politics!”
Lynden Johnson(American President): “Rev Martin Luther King,stop inciting black people in your fight of equal opportunities and singing your “we shall over someday” song because your are a Baptist minister, leave it to the politicians”.
Sakeni: “Bishop John Mambo, you should avoid praying for hungry people in church because that’s politics!”.
Absolute nonsense.
Just beat up these chaps. citizen arrest. These guys are not many as such and people know them. good news is that even their homes are not secure, not even their drinking places. we need more C10’s and not five. C10’S will have a mandate to protect the rights of women and children being abused by cadres at the bus stops and also men work solely give themselves to help developed this Lovely country. we can not allow cadres to continue beating up innocent citizens. Cadres C10 will come to effect soon and very soon. we will flash you from markets, bus station and follow you in the compounds until you go the villages.
Yes next time these goons come into a building, church or not, and lay a hand on anyone – please close the doors and ‘kunga’ them and drag them out (you cant use ‘minimum force’ on them in the church yard ofcourse 😉 – when youve bandled them out, beat them to an inch of their lives, then record them denouncing and insulting their bosses and paste it on the internet. It will be self defense and also you’d have them now excommunicated from their militia camp (ridding society of these menaces one at a time) There is no police people – we are on our own so shibukeni!
We have seen this type of hooliganism during the MMD.The good part of it is that our laugh comes last.Gone on and abuse your powers!
By then how many will be hurt, while you wait to have the last laugh?
When the righteous rule,the people rejoice. Let the church get involved in politics before this country our beloved Zambia gets any worse. We have seen how countries in Africa have taken to arms and how such countries are barely standing.
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If the church doesn’t get involved, this country shall fall.
Psalm 33:12-22
King James Version (KJV)
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
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Zambia shall experience a new political change of unity by the people, for she is a blessed Nation.
PF MUST GO!!!
Chota i agree with you.People should not be using the church to advance their personal political goals.I think God has really taught BIGOCA and the other leaders a lesson that Gods name should not be used in vain or to suit an agenda which is seemingly hidden to man but an open book from Gods perspective.Remember about the story in the book of Acts on the sons of scever who tried to cast out devils in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached?They were badly beaten because the demons coundt recognise the source of their authpority and this is what happened here.lol!
Read the book of Kings and Chronicles,every knee shall bow every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is lord even politics has to bow to the name of Jesus.Learn how Kings who honored God during their reign prospered and were blessed and how Kings who did not honor God ended up,in the books of Kings and Chronicles
Martin Luther King was a Christian who spoke against injustices and brought about a peaceful revolution
I don’t share your religious beliefs, and I don’t care whether the guys were in a church or maize field.
What I object to is the politically-motivated violence exercised and the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice by the ruling party for obvious reasons.
This type of politics started with UNIP vigilates, where is unip now. It was contuned with MMD where is MMD. Now the SELA TUBOMBEKO type of politics by PF will warrant them the most 1 term of office. People need to vent their problems otherwise they just explode when they are bottled. Ubuteko bwa ba kokote.
Don’t use the church for political ambitions, BIGOCA did the right thing with wrong people whose interest was to get political seats and not the poor they were praying for. It should start with all these politicians to openly stand and confess to the Nation the wrongs they did against humanity before they could claim to pray for the poor.
So you mean the leader of NAREP cannot comment?