The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) member churches meeting in Lusaka on today have said that the the in-fighting in Patriotic Front (PF), the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) has the potential to cause instability in the country if left unchecked.
In a statement released to the media today , CCZ said that they were very very disturbed and worried by the political instability, misunderstandings and reported violence in some political parties.
Below is the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT RELEASED BY CHURCH LEADERS OF THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA (CCZ) MEMBER CHURCHES ON 4th DECEMBER, 2014
We, the church leaders of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) member churches meeting in Lusaka on the 4TH of December, 2014 would like to make the following observations with regards to the current political scenario in the country.
1 POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
CCZ is very disturbed and worried by the political instability, misunderstandings and reported violence in some political parties.
We have observed that the in-fighting in the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) has the potential to cause instability in the country if left unchecked.
The confusion, instead of being amicably resolved via observation of their constitutions, the conflict has intensified and is escalating to dangerous proportions. This is affecting all Zambians and would be investors. It is creating a very unhealthy transition process towards electing a new President for our nation. The behaviour of some political leaders does not give Zambians confidence that they qualify to be national leaders.
We believe that PF as a party in power has a great responsibility to ensure peace and security in the nation by means of embracing the principle of unity of purpose by putting individual differences aside and concentrate on their mandate to lead the country through this transition to the election day.
The ruling party must realise that the continued in-fighting is a cost to the country’s development as the entire PF leadership which comprises of senior government officials are spending most of their time fuelling conflict in order to grab leadership at all costs.
Since the President died, the ministers have abandoned and neglected their national duties to join in the confusion. This is indeed retrogressive and uncalled for.
The church is ready to play the role of mediator when called upon by any political party to resolve differences and we will continue to pray that unity shall prevail amongst all political players for the sake of our country moving forward.
Bloodshed should be avoided. Any blood spilled for expediency shall be on all politicians hands.
2. FORTH-COMING PRESIDENTAL ELECTIONS
The church is committed to ensuring that the process of ushering in the country’s new leader is done in accordance with the laws that govern the country as a democratic state. It is for this reason that the three church mother bodies and other faith based organisations namely the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia (EFZ), the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), Caritas Zambia and the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) have formed a coalition called the CHRISTIAN CHURCHES MONITORING GROUP (CCMG), to ensure transparency, accountability and credibility of the election process.
The coalition’s aim is to monitor the forth-coming presidential elections of 20th January 2015 and the entire electoral process leading to the elections, focusing mainly on the management of election results.
To this effect, the coalition called CCMG will come up with a Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) exercise to be used as a tool for monitoring the integrity of the election results during and after the counting process of votes, with the participation of well-trained election monitors.
This effort can only bear fruit in an environment of peace and unity. It is therefore our hope that politicians will quickly listen to the voice of reason and put to rest personal interests, narrow interests and embrace the power of harmony in respect for all the people in the nation.
We will continue to pray for our country Zambia and the transition process leading to the elections. A peaceful transition is what will make us emerge stronger and better as a nation.
May the Lord continue to bless Zambia.
Just De-Register these two parties and we move on. These are not political parties by mafia gangs. Even Chama Chakomboka’s party was more organised than these thugs. UPND is ready and the others are ready too
Well rubber stamp Miles Sampa so he brings unity and unites the whole country because he is the best of the rest
Thanks
BB2014
Belinda Nafwa Part(II)
Ndi nobulanda mwebantu SAULOSI nafwa.
Afwile nechikonko icha ba PF!
chorus
x2 SAULOSI kankulile
iiiiiiiiiiiiyyeeeeeeeeee
PVT is a must.
The desperation in the Edgar Led faction is very scaring. They will do ANYTHING to grub power.
If they can go to extend of knowingly LIE to the Judiciary to issue a CONSENT JUDGEMENT, which they know for sure is not true raises an ALARM. They may argue (as some have put it) that since Atanga was sued as SG, hence Chama (their appointed SG) legally qualifies to represent the PF.
Any leader with Integrity can NEVER deliberately seek for loopholes in the law to sneak into Presidency. It seems they WANT to get into Sate House by Hook or Crook:
1. Deliberately hijack General Conference at MRA
2. Use thugs to hijack accreditation of delegates at MICC
3. Continue illegal MCC meetings
4. To disregard the constitution
Will you Zambians allow them?
My Appeal to ALL Zambians
Let us Save Mother Zambia from this gang of crooks.
Let us turnout in huge number to VOTE these Crooks out. And let each VOTE be protected.
Do this for YOU and YOUR CHILDREN and their CHILDREN
One Hit Wonder,
Good one! They say that once a goat gives birth where there people, it is seeking protection from the the dogs.
Its gonna be a humongous change and shocked that these Churches & NGOs where totally mute the violence exhibited by PF along with their cadres towards innocent citizens.
The confusion is still alive in PF, until it will be voted in 46 days time.
Surely Belinda Nafwa.
Counting.
Perhaps there is already instability. Why don’t these people find a political solution,EL goes through and they meet HH in the field? End of day, its the people to chose not the law.
Imagine the late Mazoka had been the state sitting president at the time he passed on. The problems of UPND would have been no different from what we are seeing in PF now.
Our politics have wrong foundations that need surgery.
Breaking news, HH has endosed His Excellence the President EL as his prefered candidate,
We are getting there, our second objectif aechieved
first was the High court
next will be kk , Dr kaseba then Guy scot
lastly but not the least UPND supporters. hhhhhh!!!, PF nizeee!!
I rebuke that in Jesus name?? Moreover these in fighting are within the party, which part of democracy, so there is no ways they can cause instability. People can switch or break away from parties, nothing beyond that.
Zambians by Nature are not fighters so they will differ but later drinking Chibuku together. so churches, please don’t publish such articles.
The One Zambia One Nation – value principle is beyond politicians. It’s a phase and dust will settle soon.
Guy Scott is the future; black people cannot run a country; give us your companies; we shall hire u; pay u peanuts and make a killing of a profit when exporting minerals
Thank you CCZ, we are ushering in HH. the matitudes have have followed winds of change favouring UPND.
it reminds me when God confused the people building the tower of balbel with language after surving the floods in the boat. Now the boat is no more. They think they can take the law in their own hands like Noah’s time.
anyway it is expected of such a mediocre Panga Family
Chumbu Mulolwa
Asp LT BB2015
Zambia continue with such games.
If violence and instability engulf Zambia, be rest assured that Barotseland will immediately upgrade its status using the boundaries of 1911, which are recorded and recognized under international law.
Continue with your silly games and see where this will get us.
Tukongote Litunga Ni Lyetu. Barotseland the land of our forefathers.
Lifasi la ndate Luna, Litunga Kaogolo ka Nyambe.
At the moment, the 1911 boundaries will be in effected sooner than expected. Everything is in control for Barotseland. Some people will soon be shocked as the South austral rising Star. God wills it.
Nevertheless, the violence in PF has its roots back from UNIP dictatorial regime. In the 70s, UNIP banned all political parties and only KK would contest against a frog!?
Tanzania = Tanganyika + Zanzibar are enjoying their 50 years union but Zambia =Barotseland +Northern Rhodesia in 1964’s birth certificate has been refused for the last 50 years.
God the almighty is watching over and time has come.
The PF has caused all this confusion by delaying to release the constitution at an appropriate time. The late president Mr M Sata also must have prepared someone the moment he was elected as the country president.That is what a good leader must do which most African presidents do not do. Only Mandela di
They are now touching their own eyes with red hot chilies. As Newton emphasized that to every action, indeed there is an antagonistic and mutual reaction.
In this case, PF is merely having an entrée of their Donchi Kubeba concoction of 90 days in reverse. Come 20th January 2015, it will be buffet as the main course, their ending with be spiced with a dessert for those who will survive the sinking boat.
Counting down until a Hero of Humanity takes over from Panga family.
metro cab, guy and the drunken master should just sit down and agree on one thing. in mmd the pastor and br should also do like wise then we can move on.
Zambia has no problems. This is the problem with bembas, they think Pf means Zambia, Ukokwine ifyabupuba. We are organized and our country is in wait to see HH at the helm. Watch this space.
The happenings in Zambia are an exhibition of the failure of governance. Where are the State institutions created by the Constitution to safeguard the integrity of the State: Specifically, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. They all seem to be sleeping on duty while their officials are drawing hefty salaries and allowances!!! Me thinks that the Judiciary is mostly to blame for failure to provide guidance and correct interpretations of the laws governing the parties. The Police have completely failed to enforce law and order. How has so much lawlessness and anarchy been allowed to take root.
Hi Churches, thanks for the information but please note that we already have a candidate under the disciplined party of UPND. Much as I appreciate your observation, I write to advise that we can not afford to give a vote to people who are disorganized, confused and arrogant. We are a Christian nation!
BRAVO! kwenje… Its Flight HH20.1.15
Scot with the Cartel have caused the in fighting in MMD and PF.
indeed thank you very much churches we the peace loving citizens of zambia do here confirm that we have already settled on hh the upnd leader to take this country forward and unite it. zambia belongs to all the people regardless of their tribes one zambia one nation
Surely we the party without confusions and that’s UPND. VIVA HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The only dispute that can cause civil in Zambia is the fight between Edgar Lungu and Miles Sampa. PF cadres from the PF factions are carrying guns in public and threatening innocent Zambians. I have not heard any fight that is a danger to peace from MMD OR UNIP. The churches are cowards they fear PF cadres because of what happened in Matero When Miles Sampa unleashed Hiety Bwalya and thugs to beat them in church. The churches clearly state that PF confusion could cause civil war.
the Church should condemn PF violence without including other political parties, cowards you churches its PF BLOCKING ROADS, ITS PF cadres organized by Edgar Lungu who attacked cabinet office the seat of government. Shame on the church you failed to condemn Edgar Lungu for the assault on cabinet office
Bwana mkubwa, your analysis is wrong because it is based on hearsay about “violence” at the general conference. If you looked at the pictures of the congress site by LT, you will have noticed that the candidates (notably GBM, Lubinda and others were actually relaxing together, with Edgar Lungu even stretching on the grass). Would that kind of atmosphere be regarded as violent?
Ba CCZ, nothing of the sort will happen in Zambia. What may happen is that PF or MMD may miss the nomination day if they do not sort themselves out before then. However there would be no vacuum to cause national chaos. There is a third and viable presidential candidate in the event that PF and MMD miss out, that is HH. The MMD and PF cadres will see the stupidity of their leaders and simply give their vote to the remaining candidates or abstain. Even party cadres will not cause war if they can see clearly as it that they do not have their chosen candidates on the ballot papers not because of HH but because their leaders decided not to participate. You see, simple!
HH for President of Zambia, huh? Ummh, not a bad idea!
This is not in fighting but democracy , democracy means you have to compete with your peers, not just to walk in and say you are the right one , value is what is needed
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