By Bishop John Mambo
I wish to express my profound regret on some of our Christian groups that have vehemently and hysterically condemned our Republican President for visiting Pope Francis in Rome.
I wish to state that our immediate past President visited the same Pope but never received such astonishing criticism like the current President is receiving and that’s in itself is amazing.
First and foremost, the Pope is a Head of State and President Hichilema, I imagine, as Head of State visited him on that bilateral and diplomatic level, and not as a member of a particular church or denomination.
But most importantly brothers and sisters, the most important responsibility for any leader is to unite and not to divide, to include and not to exclude, to advance equity and fairness and not inequality, to gather and not scatter and I verily believe this is the very description and the profound character of Jesus Christ; to embrace and not to reject, to love and dialogue with those that are different from us, then to pour scorn and judge.
Reaching out to Moslems, Hindus and Bahais do not make one any of those faiths, but it makes one considerate, loving and Christ-like. Just like going out to trade in Dubai which is a preoccupation of some of those criticizing the President, does not make one a Moslem
From my standpoint, we must treat the body of Christ as being supreme and above religious or doctrinal affiliation. Christian is anchored on peace, love and harmony. Any message outside these three principles must be treated as not being from God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
We must therefore emulate Christ by advancing the language of love than hatred because Jesus focused on reaching out to all even the gentiles.
Let’s give President Hakainde Hichilema a chance to unite a country that was once divided to it’s core. Those that condemn him for visiting the Pope must reach out to their consciences and decide if it’s not being done out of hate and anger, something the Christian faith preaches against.
Mr Mambo, what is there to condemn or to defend? HH went to Europe and decided to stop and say hi to Pope Francis. I don’t see anything wrong there. Or maybe Mr Mambo you are just excited over your inclusion on the ZCCM board. This is gone, it’s history, find something viable to make you relevant.
Board membership is really working. The “good bishop'” has not yet found time to comment on the proposed legislation changes on the Marriages Act which affects him as a clergy member more than HH’s visit to the Pope. Had the proposed amendments been made by the PF government. our “good bishop” would have jumped on top of the mountain and declared that the PF government was the most sinful government on this planet. Chalo ichi!
Vatican is State and Pope is the head of that state. Nothing wrong with two heads of State having a meeting
Let the president carry on with his state duties than listen to negative views expressed by some who are mere clowns. To them HH should have just been in Zambia neglecting all world networks beneficial to Zambia. Zambia’s profile internationally was at the bottom in all aspects and the president is restoring the damaged credibility our nation was associated with. Imagine a drug baron flying on VIP passport with a Zambian president. The drugie is on a wanted list of FBI and some people were comfortable with that. ” Seleni uko tu wamye Zambia”.
Peace
People, and as such Zambians, are the best judge for their leaders’ conduct.
What is holy, or unholy, about our president meeting the pope. Why should president Hichilema meet his counterpart only as a state leader and not as a spiritual Catholic leader, representing about 1.5 billion believers?
The reasons Bishop Maambo is advancing are not tallying but making the whole situation questionable.
Mark Woodman
I am afraid Mambo sits on some govt company board so before he comes his mouth you know what he is not going to say..he is like those Christians for Lungu chaps.
*….opens his mouth….
I find the doctrine of the hollow and empty, it has no soul. Please note that your salvation won’t come calling others devil worshippers as eat cold food and drink chibwantu on Saturday. Many Adventist women don’t have a problem to marry men from different faiths. It’s common to see women in blue uniform at a funeral of a Catholic because their member married one. While they enjoy the fruits of wedlock they go to church to call their other half as a devil worshipper! These are the real hypocrites. Hichilema is an Adventist but he’s a President for all Zambians, believers and non believers. I wasn’t shocked when I watched that video of that ka Pastor condemning his calling the Pope as Holy Father. Little knowledge is dangerous