The Young African Leaders Initiative has noted with sadness the resignation of Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima as president of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) in the wake of the strongly-worded statement from the three church mother bodies.
YALI president Andrew Nthewewe said that Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima’s resignation should not be taken lightly but must be a call for three church mother bodies to do self-introspection on their positions in national issues.
Mr. Nthewewe said that the current resignation signals a confirmation that there is something wrong among the different entities constituting these church mother bodies.
In a statement released to the media Mr Nthewewe, said that his organisation expects the church mother bodies to become a guide to government and not turn itself into an opposer by playing subtle political games and issuing political statements.
Mr. Nthewewe has since called upon those who preside over these church mother bodies that instead of resigning, they must stand firm and correct the growing practice where the church is being seen to suppress itself into politics.
Below is the full statement
Press Statement
10th March, 2019
The Young African Leaders Initiative has noted with sadness the resignation of Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima as President of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) in the wake of the strongly-worded statement from the three church mother bodies.
We also take note that the Bishop has indicated that he wants to preserve his integrity and that of the United Church of Zambia which we must say is the biggest constituency in the CCZ and only second to the Catholic Church. We have also taken cognisant that the strongly worded statement should not ordinarily come from those who must unite differing factions. What is particularly perturbing is that this is the not the first time we are having a fallout from within their ranks once the church issues one of its statements.
This resignation should not be taken lightly but must be a call for the church mother bodies to do self-introspection on their positions in national issues.
The current resignation signals a confirmation that there is something seriously wrong among the different entities constituting these church mother bodies. The church mother-bodies have found themselves in a position likened to the 3 tyres of the car that are pulling in different directions because they have over engrossed themselves into the mainstream politics instead of providing spiritual leadership.
The failure by the church to compromise their positions and move in one accord with the Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue in steering the dialogue is reflective in the personal agendas that each of these spiritual leaders who constitute the church manifest.
What we had expected the church mother bodies is to become a guide to Government and not turn itself into an opposer by playing subtle political games and issuing political statements. We call upon those who preside over these church mother bodies that instead of resigning, they must stand firm and correct the growing practice where they church is being seen to muzzle itself into politics.
We pray for the mighty hand of Jehovah to preside over the national matters of our great motherland!!! Help us God!!
Andrew Ntewewe
President
Sichilima just like YALI is a sellout, for a few pieces of silver. How biased is ZNBC and why has it not been shut down?
Christ never resigned. He corrected. He was there for all. Never gove up!
These days we have christians for the rich and for the poor. If the gate of the stadium is too small for them to pass through on their way to heaven, imagine the contempt they would show if it was suggested to them to use the eye of the needle.
Ntewewe Ntewewe Ntewewe how many times did I call you?
Its on record and pictures are there of sichilima’s ucz members in 2016 raising the pf symbol in church when they were visited by their earthly god. Sichilima never censored his congregation over this
dispeakable act.
Jono Meno Meno, what a tosser
Without prime tv, PF would have refused having committed any violence. Now their cadres are on record brandishing guns on innocent people, the police or cadres in police uniform discharging live ammunition and tear gas for no reason against innocent civilians. I would urge the opposition to always back up their grievances with video footage like they did in Shesheke. In the meantime, we await the prosecution of known PF carders who were brandishing guns on innocent people.
Theres certainly something wrong with the 3 church mother bodies! Corruption and bribery are the words. And the desperate opposition are behind it. But the opposition are alteady showing they lack integrity, so how can they be entrusted with plot one! Tapali ichabo come 2021!
Actually there’s a report that Prime TV has received millions of kwacha to disseminate false and alarming news. Each month each PTV employee is receiving hefty pay checks. The imperialists are determined to have a puppet government in place. They tried it through one Anderson Mazoka but failed and in anger abandoned KCM. They don’t care how much blood is shed as long as they get what they want.
Where is the report?
You mean you haven’t seen it? It’s a pity I can’t relay it to you. I will paste it when I go home after leaving the farm.
Bishop Sichilima was the weakest link in the church mother bodies and now it leaves our UCZ as a politised church.
Mr. Obatalala! Has ZNBC been inciting violence? What Prime Tv was to incite violence? What if the Easterners also decided to call it a spade a spade! This is what brought civil war in Rwanda! Your Hichilema will just charter a plane and you his blinded supporters will remain dying while he will be comfortable in South Africa. Open your eyes. Its wrong to support somebody on basis of tribe! Its very dangerous. HHs desperation is polarising politics in Zambia. And for that he will never rule Zambia, like it or not!
HH has eaten other people’s money and like a prostitute he has no choice other than going to bed with them. What we must not forget is that HH is able to live abroad and if Zambia is set on fire he’ll just fly to Panama and hide there.
@Ndanje Khakis, you envy for HH will choke you. The reason you are poor is because you support a failure like Edgar and his PF. Are you not concerned that the PF are spending $400 million on a presidential jet and yet they have withdrawn meal allowance for university students? Do you want more examples?
Obatala – It is such careless alarmist statements that make us worry about your kind – which jet was bought at $400 million in all honesty?
Why should I envy such a megalomaniac? It’s you who eats crumbs from his table who can worship such trash.
Obatala,
Get it from me. No meal allowance has been withdrawn for university students. What has happened is that students entitled to a loan are given money in the form an amount of, say, X Kwacha per year. Of the amount given, a student is free to work his own budgetary requirements. He/she, for example, can allocate 25 percent of the expenditure on food, 15 percent on accommodation, 40 percent on tuition fees, etc.
“..expects the church mother bodies to become a guide to government and not turn itself into an opposer by playing subtle political games and issuing political statements…”
That is the code word from PF caders for anyone against PF violence and democratic crackdowns on the opposition.
“..expects the church mother bodies to become a guide to government and not turn itself into an opposer by playing subtle political games and issuing political statements…”
That is the code word from PF caders for anyone against PF violence and democratic crackdowns on the opposition or against anyone who opposes corruption
this man has always appeared to me like a paid up boot licker for the high office, just my observation
IT SEEMS THERE’S A BOOTLIKERS TOURMENT GOING ON
PF Ntewewe hiding in NGO has spoken. Ignore his statement as it is fake. He wants a job from PF.
Young African leaders initiative truly reflects African politics Ntewewe, Shut up!
The Church Mother Body should not be given a leeway to preside over national issues. Lets take a leaf from the Nigerian men of God who are not partisan. The major problem with our so called servants of God in Zambia are not objective, they are filled with the spirit of instigating rebellion. Read revelation Chapter 2: 4 -7
take example from SDA . have ever seen or head SDA make political statemen. They never wallow in political quagmire. Politicians are dirty.
How can you drink from same cup with Ck
Well done Bishop Sichilima for pulling out of the nonsensical alliance or grouping of political charlatans called church mother bodies ( whoever the father is). Their agenda is known to everyone including their funders. Regime change does not come through stupid trickery, nooooooooooo. Prime tv is very well known for inciting violence and promoting hate speech not only against Edgar Lungu but even innocent people perceived by upnd as supporters of the President. Total closure/revocation of license is what prime tv deserved and not a mere suspension.
Unfortunately my church which played a significant role in the Rwanda genocide hasn’t learned from that sad chapter on our continent.
This regime change awe sure!
Let that bishop go, otherwise he was just going to be a hindrance. The man probably has been bought that’s why a long speech was made on his behalf and we keep hearing it so as to keep the narrative of a bad coalition just because one soul left forgetting it’s still very intact. Pretty soon the truth will come and we will know how much he sold his soul for
So people cannot exercise their free will without being bought off? What are you going to say if all of them quit? It’s going to be the biggest buy off.
I wonder what would have happened if Christ had resigned the time he was subjected to both political and religious condemnation. On political grounds he was accused of overthrowing the ruling gvt by calling himself a king ( in today’s civic language ‘treason’). On religious grounds he was accused of blaspheming by calling himself a son of man. In all these he remained on his ground to defending his father’s truth.
Well done big man, don’t be used by selfish people who don’t think about others.