The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Commissioners and staff at the Electoral Commission of Zambia to conduct the polls tomorrow in a professional manner.
In a statement on behalf of the Bishops, Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishop Archbishop Teresphore Mpundu said the ECZ must remain resolute and professionally conduct their business in providing the necessary mechanisms in the electoral process that will guarantee free and fair elections.
Archbishop Mpundu said, “The ECZ officers must remember that “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standards” (Prov. 16:11). 8. Not only that, we hereby challenge the youths to be architects of a better Zambia by being agents of peace and reconciliation. We therefore appeal to you to “refuse to be used as mere tools of violence by unscrupulous politicians” (Let there be peace among us, # 26). 9.”
He appealed to all Zambians to realise that voting is one of their fundamental rights and duties. It is also a Christian duty.
The Bishops have always maintained that it is the duty of Catholics and people of goodwill to elect leaders.
“You also have a God given responsibility to maintain peace before, during and after the polling day. Democracy requires in the first place that all citizens exercise their right to vote in a free and peaceful environment,” he said.
“Therefore, we your shepherds once more call upon all Zambians who registered as voters to turn up tomorrow and cast their votes. Never get tired of voting, as your apathy will only give greater chance to opportunists to carry the day.”
He added,
“As you go to vote, remember to vote for a candidate who should have the following qualities, professionally competent on political, economic and social programmes, courage to speak out the truth, concern for social justice, desire to work for the common good instead of self-enrichment, disposition to use power for service, especially service of the poor and under-privileged, openness to dialogue, honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability to the electorate.”
“Remember not to vote for candidates who are arrogant with a propensity to use violence, people without honesty and integrity, those with proven record of corruption and abuse of power and public resources and those who put narrow sectarian or ethnic interest before national interest and the common good,”
Archbishop Mpundu said.
He also hoped that all the organisations that will be monitoring the elections are adequately prepared for the task.
“We thus pray that all citizens enter the August 11 general elections with a spirit of honesty, avoiding bribes and cheating. We also pray that all voters, political party leaders and their cadres may have at heart, the needed passion and commitment to build for peace and avoid all forms of violence. As St. Paul exhorts us, “Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody”.
TRANSPARENCY IS KEY. THEY THAT ARE DOING NOTHING WRONG HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.!!!!
CHIBE CHIBE LUNGU ALEYA
RAIN NO RAIN PF MUST BE VOTED OUT!!!!
Telesphore Mpundu had no moral right to advise Zambians about voting. He is the one who streets the whole Catholic Church in Zambia to vote for Sata and PF in 2011. He helped to put Zambia in the mess it is in. He should first apologise to Zambians for what he helped usher in, this Satanic PF govt that steals every day from poor Zambians.
Telesphore Mpundu has no moral right to advise Zambians about voting. He is the one who steered the whole Catholic Church in Zambia to vote for Sata and PF in 2011. He helped to put Zambia in the mess it is in. He should first apologise to Zambians for what he helped usher in, this Satanic PF govt that steals every day from poor Zambians.
The good thing about the Catholic church is that it can’t be bought by any political party, unlike some of these pentecostal churches we are seeing nowadays with their home made bishops.
Lets whose prayers will be answered, of Synagogue of all Nation corrupt Joshua Banda or the almighty Bishop Mpundu.
Hail Mary…
ZAMBIANS, LETS UNITE, IF TELEPHONE NETWORKS WILL SUSPEND THEIR SERVICES DURING THIS PERIOD, lets all VERY ACTIVELY STOP SUBSCRIBING & MOVE TO OTHER NETWORKS!!
THIS IS BECOZ THEY CHOOSE TO CONNIVE WITH CHAGWA THE DRUNK, so like LEECHES OR MOSQUITOES WHO ONLY WANT TO SUCK OUR BLOOD, by TAKING OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY, let them follow Chagwa & PERHAPS HE CAN GIVE THEM SOME OF HIS LOOT!!! LETS SEND THESE NETWORKS SUCH AS AIRTEL PACKING!! WE DON’T NEED AIRTEL!!!!!
PamaFikuyabebele!!!!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND FOR A UNITED & RESURGENT ZAMBIA!!
#Chagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
HH so where does your insulting GBM place you? HH, you made a terrible selfish mistake to overlook people who made you president of UPND and elected to appoint a woman abuser GBV as your running mate. HH, you have yourself to blame – out of desperation you dug your own grave – so RIP! May the Good Lord have mercy upon your soul!
REMEMBER NOT TO VOTE FOR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA BECAUSE HE IS ARROGANT, KNOWS IT ALL, EMBRACES WIFE BATTERING AND ABOVE ALL HAS PROPENSITY TO USE VIOLENCE.
the man is HH to vote for..he’s firm and hard working..with integrity and honesty!!
I beg to differ with you @intelligence.l! Your demi god is arrogant.
I would like to also take this opportunity to thank God Almighty for giving the winning team grace, wisdom and strength as they did their campaign. Your rally at woodlanda staduim was done in style!! We now wait for Jehovah to complete it for us by people casting their votes in their numbers in JESUS’s name. Vote wisely ECL 2016
I think the Catholic Bishops have spoken loud and clear. It does not get any clearer than this .
Inonge Wina fits the description of the First Part and GBM fits the description of the Second part. Those who have ears let them hear.