Hichilema’s Peace Call Lacks Justice, Says Catholic Priest
A Catholic priest and governance advocate has described President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent call for peace, love, and reconciliation as hypocritical, arguing that such appeals are hollow without concrete action on justice, accountability, and service delivery.
Father Andrew Mukosa, Director at Dignitatis Humanea, said reconciliation cannot be achieved through rhetoric alone and must be preceded by demonstrable steps to address grievances and correct governance failures.
He said calls for unity and peace lose credibility when they are not matched by corrective action, stressing that reconciliation should follow justice rather than precede it.
Father Mukosa said genuine national unity flows from fair treatment, accountability, and open dialogue, not ceremonial or seasonal messaging. He urged political leaders to engage in self-reflection, acknowledge governance shortcomings, and involve communities in sincere reconciliation processes.
According to Father Mukosa, leadership credibility is built through confronting failures directly rather than relying on public appeals unsupported by action.
He cited persistent service-delivery challenges as evidence of deeper systemic neglect, pointing to deteriorating health infrastructure, stalled district development projects, underfunded Constituency Development Fund initiatives, and perceived mismanagement of public resources. He said these failures have eroded public trust and deepened social divisions.
The cleric warned against what he termed a “negative peace,” where the absence of open conflict masks unresolved tensions. He said lasting harmony depends on justice-driven governance and effective service delivery, particularly for public servants and vulnerable communities who rely on functioning state institutions.
Father Mukosa’s remarks followed the President’s Christmas address to the nation, in which President Hichilema invoked Christian scripture and symbolism, describing the birth of Jesus Christ as a message of hope, love, dialogue, and reconciliation.
In the address, the President urged Zambians to renew their commitment to peace, unity, and reconciliation, saying national cohesion is built through humility, understanding, and peaceful engagement even in times of difference. He called on citizens to celebrate responsibly, avoid drunk driving, observe road safety, spend time in prayer and family fellowship, and show compassion to the less privileged during the festive season.
The President also appealed for generosity and care for vulnerable members of society, saying the true spirit of Christmas lies in giving, sharing, and ensuring that no one feels forgotten, as the nation works towards a peaceful and prosperous Zambia grounded in Christian values.
However, Father Mukosa maintained that peace without accountability risks entrenching grievances, insisting that national reconciliation must be anchored in tangible reforms rather than seasonal or symbolic rhetoric.
It’s you guys in the churches who are the biggest hypocrates, so please don’t comment about others!
I am a catholic but do not listen to what these ‘politicians’ cum priests say. I have senses to see and judge
Perfect
This is brought about by politicians running to church services and bringing politics into religion
this grz top leaders more so
Instead of blaming GRZ……….
Look at society,………..
Are citizens responsibly discarding waste ? Are citizens trustworthy in terms of CDF monies ???………..
It’s time we saw news of these same clergy trying to correct ills of society by telling their flock how to live responsibly ..,…….
They won’t because they are part of the problem…….
and expect GRZ to do everything for them………..even take them to the toilet…………
We are here
FWD2041
UPND Cadre comments above are all lies as usual
Mr multiple log on names
FED2041
Blasphemous Spaka it’s not the priests’ job. You have people in your government claiming to be minister of health, local government etc and they get portions of our hard earned salaries called tax. They lie that they are working and you want priests to do their job?
What kind of priest is that, the president is talking about the relationship every day people have with each other this is what the church people should be doing especially at this time of year. Get your conduct right with each other then you can point a finger at others.
Politicians will never improve in Afica because cadres are always defending them. The Priest is saying a lot of sense and you start slandering him. UPND cadres are the most indiscplined the whole world, remember the circumcision threat on ECL, followed by the akatumbi insults.
You can expect everything from GRZ and blame everything on GRZ……..
Citizens need to take some responsibility, and the church should advise………
Look at how Zambians discard rubbish ?,
Or make toilets at new builds that are unlined ?
FWD2041
This piece reminds me of Catholic notions of true repentance: it’s not enough to say “God forgives my sins” there must be contrition and tangible actions. Hichilema’s call for peace and reconciliation rings hollow without justice, accountability, and real service delivery. The missing opportunity is leadership that confronts governance failures head on, engages communities, and delivers on health, district development, and fair resource management. True unity comes from fair treatment and honest accountability, not empty rhetoric or ceremonial messaging.
This piece makes me reflect on Catholic teaching about true repentance: saying “God forgives my sins” isn’t enough-it requires contrition and real actions that align with it. Hichilema’s call for peace and reconciliation feels incomplete without visible justice, accountability, and effective service delivery.
A nugatory charlatan
President HH,
Please keep your eyes on the ball. Do not listen to distractors/noise makers.
And we all know the Catholic Church’s scandals the whole world over. Father, how about getting rid of that log in your eye before removing the speck from someone’s eye?
And no, I am not UPND.
Stop lying. You are UPND. Most of you are being paid election year bonuses That’s why you have suddenly become active on LT
STOP urging.
Churches are supposed to be the first and most reliable counselors to the government. Even after noticing some anomalies in anyone to be counseled, Good counselors don’t go out denouncing instead, they just go quietly to such a person and give counsel and advice. But the politically indexed church leaders do the opposite. This priest is the one who is a hypocrite of the first degree. He is not a church leader but a leader in opposition. If he claims to be a church leader, while behaving in that Way, then he must be a member of the set of the buffoons