The Bishop of Chipata Diocese and President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops George Lungu has directed that no Catholic Institution in Eastern Province should access empowerment funds through the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs.
Bishop Lungu says while he is aware that Government has come up with the Church Empowerment fund to help churches as they struggle financially, the ZCCB has taken a stand to respectively decline receiving or accessing the funds.
In a statement, Bishop Lungu says in the principles of social justice and preferential options for the poor, the Church prefers to see the same money being channeled to other needy areas such as debt servicing, paying retirees and workers at Chipata City Council who have stayed for nine months without salaries.
He explained that it would also be prudent for government to channel the resources to the health sector to procure personal protective equipment, essential drugs and deploying more staff.
And Bishop Lungu has questioned the source of the Church empowerment funds saying people need to know where it is coming from and how it will be accounted for.
Meanwhile, Bishop Lungu says the timing of these initiatives leaves room for speculation as it coincides with activities culminating into elections.
A bought man who is being used by opposition. Hh is desperate and is targeting weak f00ls such as this man to refuse genuine government support. They think this will help them win votes but they are doing opposite. A genuine person who is not brought would have taken that money and then channelled it to the people he lists as needing the money more. The empowerment fund is not meant to go in your pockets you corrupt bought f00l. The church can be an effective medium to allocate funds to those critical areas you mention. Politics in church. Fuseke
Mr Zulu, please spare my bishop. With due respect to you, I don’t think this man of GOD deserves to be called a fool for asking the government to channel the resources to repair of roads, purchase of medicines, paying retirees, council workers etc. God will certainly punish you for your insults. I am not a politician am not a cadre but a zambian catholic. Thank you
The Church is now acting as it should.
This is welcome news.
The Church is speaking for the many voiceless poor citizens. The economic effects of these debt defaults will cripple the country.
Lungu can take his donations and put them where the sun don’t shine.
Vote wisely.
Hahaha , well done Bishop Lungu for rejecting these voter bribery gifts disguised as “empowerment funds”. Very wise,prudent and ethical decision.
These are principled men…Not uyu ndani uyu!!
THE TROLL HONESTLY THINKS ALL ZAMBIANS ARE F00LS
ENPOWERMENT ?? fERTILIZER ?? XCHIN*SE NO LESS AND A CHIN*SE PUMP
AND GROCERIES ??????
WELDONE TO THOSE REJECTING
THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE HAVE AFTER 56 YEARS WOKEN UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRING ON AUGUST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost hope in Zambian Churches especially the Pentacostal who comfortably dine with criminals as long as you give them offerings.
I’M VERY HAPPY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS UPHOLDING GOOD MORALS BY REJECTING BRIBES FROM DIRTY POLITICIANS.
Man of God thanks for the rejection.We hope others will follow.
I THINK THE TIME IS FITTING FOR THE BORN AGAIN TROLL TO READ DAVID AND G0LIATH WHEN HE CAN BORROW THE GOOD BOOK
Men of God, not men of Gold!!!!!!
This is how it is supposed to be. Let them pay the retirees and civil servants whose salaries have been overtaken by the weak kwacha – weakened by the pf printouts of cash amounting to over K37billion. All this “fake” cash masquerading as empowerment – disaster. Just as well he is also a Lungu – no wako-niwako here. Thumbs up bishop – mwalasa aBambo!
Infact Easterners are always objective! They dont look at tribe. Even Hechi-Hechi can win there.
Disaster!
@ KZ since your convict president is busy distributing cash and so called gifts under empowerment as elections are round the corner, a few individuals are principled, GOD fearing.
Why don’t you give your wife and daughter to your fellow cadres for a night under empowerment, follow into the footsteps of your corrupt president
The most sensible clergyman I have seen in zambia………
Lungu shameless in giving stolen money as silly donations while the country sinks deeper into debt and despair……..
@ KZ since your c0nvict president is busy distributing cash and so called gifts under empowerment as elections are round the corner, a few individuals are principled, GOD fearing.
Why don’t you give your wife and daughter to your fellow cadres for a night under empowerment, follow into the footsteps of your corrupt president
Now this is something new to my ears coming from the clergy in Zambia. It takes moral fibre, a firm stance and integrity to decline material hand outs from the highest office and to question the source/motive.
It also reminds me of King David’s words: “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.. For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints.” Psalm 37.25 -28.
Morally upright stance ,principled decision ,ethically sound and done in the interests of social justice.Bishop Lungu= polar opposite of the other crooked Lungu.
Cybercrime… Bishop shouldn’t have gone to the media. Saulos! Mugwile uyo!
Accept aid, assistance, help or support from well-wishers. Even debt relief is welcome. It is an act of humble, meek and prayer. Stop looking at donors. Instead start looking at beneficiaries. Individuals are free to accept or reject support but groups are not free to impose personal morality on individuals. There is no need for arrogant. There is no need for timid. There is no need for demagogue. Donors, keep on donating. People in need of support, keep on accepting support. If the salary is late, then a donation could make a difference. Children need nutrition. Adults can wait for tomorrow. Follow advice from the Bishop of Lusaka Archdiocese. Learn to speak with one voice on matters of sensitive issues in the Church.
Yes Sir! There are still a few good and just men who will rightly highlight where our priorities need to be as a nation. How can the church take money knowing very well council has not been paid? Sir, may the good Lord bless you for standing up against evil.
The VERY REASON I RESPECT CATHOLICS, MOST OF THE TIME THEY CALL A “SPADE A SPADE”!!Well done Bishop Lungu, I just hope all Dioceses will adhere to the resolutions of the ZCCB!!
Dr Makasa have some morals, accepting anything and everything is the main reason why Africa is so behind and poor. Its high time we reject some of these dirty gifts and money because some of them come with a curse. Imagine you dancing for gifts that have caused others not to get paid or has led the whole country to default on its loans. It is better to make your own money and be independent than to be controlled by small donations where you have some grown adults praising another adult as if God has not given them strength and brains to create their own wealth
This Bishop must be very dull those items donated are not yours it is for those vulnerable people in your church , in fact you are supposed to lobby for such donations because you have people who are in need as for you, you are a rich man you know exactly were you will get you next meal and not those poor souls you are sitting on because of your personal politics.
You must be very careful with what you do to the poor .
This will really shame the corrupt shameless beggars at UCZ.
Sensible suggestion. Chipata City Council, the Retirees etc
A CLERGY FULL OF WISDOM AND JUSTICE IN HIS TONE. HE IS A REAL DISCIPLE OF OUR LORD JESUS AND NOT OF JUDAS LINEAGE . MAY GOD BLESS YOU BISHOP FOR YOUR OPEN AND TIMELY GUIDING HEART TO THE GOVERNMENT. MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS A TEACHER DIED IN 2010 AND I THE FATHER RETIRED IN 2011 Up TO NOW OUR TERMINAL BENEFITS ARE NOT GIVEN. OH BISHOPS YOU OF LONG TERM JUSTICE.
Mr TIKKI ( PRIVATE CITIZEN) AS IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO A MEANINGLESS POST
THE RIGHT CONSCIENCE WILL ALWAYS CONTROL A RIGHT PERSON TO DECLINE GETTING INVOLVED IN WRONG ACTIVITIES AND VICE VERSA AND THIS BUIDS AND STRENGTHENS ONES INTEGRITY AND RIGHT STANDING. ONLY UNCLASSIFIED PEOPLE LIKE THE ONES WHO CALL THEMSELVES LIK “NSHILIMUBEMBA, KAIZER AND THE LIKE” WILL ACCEPT ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKE PARTICLES IN THE WIND AND DON’T CARE ABOUT SANITY IN LIFE AND WELL BEING OF OTHERS . NI BA MWANKOLE , BAKANDILE BAMUSHANINA BWALI. BUT MEN OF GOD SHOULD ALWA5S COMEE OUT AND ACT AS EXHIBITED BY THE BISHOPS . IAM INSPIRED
One thing I fail to understand on Lusaka times is why Kaizar is always insulting others but never moderated whilst others are heavily moderated on very moderated tones
Kakaiza zezulu is just a feather, clinging onto a chicken, ECL. You can pluck out the feathers but the chicken still remain intact. It will never be eaten nor taken notice!
That is why it was fired because, it is of no consequence.
Yes yes yes Munthu Wamba chi stinky and hateful KZ needs to be banned for his ad infinitum insults.His comments smells like amafi BAN HIM NOW Lusaka Times.
Bishop don’t be a hypocrite .I would love to see you helping the poor but you are doing the opposite.
Your counsel to discourage members to receive donations is evil .
We shall who will have the last laugh
Eat the money and vote wisely
ZCCB and other church leaders have been allowing politicians’ (ruling and opposition) visitations and even giving them chance for the pulpit as they give donations. They should have just collected the ” empowerment “and redistribute it to the less privileged congregants rather than raise this Hullabaloo. Since when did church leaders ever know that collecting gifts from politicians is wrong? Unless it’s a precedence or new normal.
Or perhaps it is outright hypocrisy!
Lungu saying no to Lungu.
That is the beauty of Faith and following the Christ, the torchbearer of humanity.
Salute Bishop
Paying retirees who have worked for money must be paid first otherwise they will cry to God or curse for not been given money for the long time. From Biblical point of view, it is wrong not pay people who have worked for the money. The minister of Religious is suppose to advise the government. I salute Bishop Lungu.
This gives me hope in the future Zambia, that we still have few men/women of honor leftx albeit very few.
This is integrity and being principled… how I wish majority of the country thinks like this man of God.
Presidential Slush Fund MkII for those old enough to remember!
First they impoverish you and turn into beggers then they start dropping gaga so that you keep following them. This is very common in communist and socialist countries, where the leader is viewd as the almighty.
Well done
The reason I do not get censured or banned is because I tell the truth. Calling upnd as f00ls is not an insult but a factual statement. Lusakatimes are doing a good job of censurinf tribal hateful comments which seem to come from upnd supporters
THE SPIRITUAL MEN HAVE SPOKEN THE NEEDED JUSTICE AND WE SHALL WAIT FOR REACTIION OF THE LEADER OF THIS CHRISTIAN NATION. IS HE GOING TO HUMBLE HIMSELF AND A FAIR JOB TO THE SUFFERING RETIREES, COUNCIL WORKERS AND THE LIKE? OR IS HE GOING TO BE ARROGANT AND IGNORE THE WORD FROM ABOVE AND IGNORE THE SUFFERING WORKERS AND RETIREES BUT TO CONTINUE DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES FOR THE SAKE OF ELECTIONS? REV. SUMAILI WHAT IS YOUR CALLING AND WHAT IS YOUR JOB WHEN YOU SITUATION ALLY FIND YOURSELF IN THE GROUP OR CABINET OF SINNERS? REMEMBER ANGELS ARE WATCHING AND DON’T LET POSITION, MONEY, ELECTIONS SEPARATE YOU FROM DOING WHAT GOD LOVES
Umaptili uyu mwaume elo alikwata amano sana, it is indeed wonderful to see a few men still upholding the morals and standards bestowed upon them. The church is not suffering and does not need such an urgent help. The councils go for months without salaries, yet this govt has resources to distribute elsewhere with impunity, how about finding ways to legally divert those funds were they are mostly needed and can serve a good purpose. The chiuch must always look at the big picture indeed.
When Bishop George Lungu was elected as President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) in 2018, I was a bit sceptical especially that his name is also Lungu. How wrong I was, he is a man of integrity, honesty and high morals with a strong sense of fairness and I salute you Bishop. It’s a shame that Lusaka diocese Archbishop Alick Banda, who is also a member of ZCCB, is encouraging the church to access the fund. Now I understand why Bishop Lungu was elected to that position, he is a principled man. and has respect for the dignity of the individuals and communities.
Ba Bishop muli chawume sana sana. My greatest hope is for the voters to emulate the courage and principles exhibited by Bishop Lungu to decline such donations ( that by the way only comes in an election year) soiled with criminality. Please pay the retirees the money owed/entitled to them. Give what belongs to Ceasar to Ceasar.
How wise you are Bishop Lungu. ECL must be having sleepless nights.
TO SOME PEOPLE, WHOEVER DIFFERS WITH THEM IS LABELED A FOOL. THEY DO NOT TAKE TIME TO ANALYZE THE PERSON’S VIEWS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH UNSTABLE SELF-ESTEEM WHICH MEANS THEY CANNOT STAND THE MISERY THAT ACCOMPANIES THE DROP IN SELF-ESTEEM WHEN THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR STUPIDITY IS SHOUTED DIRECTLY TO THEM. INSULTS ARE DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS FAVORED BY LOW CALIBRE PEOPLE. IF YOU ARE MAN OR WOMAN ENOUGH, SOBERLY FACE MATTERS AND DISCUSS.
Surely the Catholic, has the right to accept or reject the offer. The catholic is well endowed with funding from their HQ in Italy. So they are not at the same level with individual churches in the country. They are among if not the most financialyy resourced church organisations in Zambia. So we really need to start talking about more important issues affecting the economy and our people on the ground.