Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, Nicola Girasoli, Girasoli has distanced the Catholic Church from the attacks on Government by some Catholic priests in the country.

Apostolic Nuncio Girasoli was speaking at a media breakfast and launch of his book entitled, “One Hundred Thoughts of Peace; we can negotiate everything except human rights” held at his residence in Lusaka today.

He explained that the Catholic Church in Zambia spoke through the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and therefore, opinions and statements from individual Catholic priests should not be regarded as the stance of the church.

“This (attacks on government by some catholic priests) is not the stand of the church, the stand of the Catholic Church is done by ZEC. So the voice of a single priest is the opinion of that priest and not of the Catholic church,” he stressed.

He said the Catholic Church was working well with Government but had a role to speak for the voiceless in society.

Ambassador Girasoli said the Catholic Church runs over 220 schools in the country and 39 hospitals with one university.

He also observed that Zambia was one of the countries with high respect for basic human rights.

Ambassador Girasoli said human rights and press freedom were highly respected in Zambia as compared to other countries on the African continent.

[pullquote]On the issue of some politicians planning to allow homosexuality if they came to power, Ambassador Girasoli explained that the rights of gays and lesbians should be respected because they were human beings too.He was however quick to point out that in Christianity, homosexuality was a clear sin adding that the Catholic Church strongly condemned the act.[/pullquote]

On the issue of some politicians planning to allow homosexuality if they came to power, Ambassador Girasoli explained that the rights of gays and lesbians should be respected because they were human beings too.He was however quick to point out that in Christianity, homosexuality was a clear sin adding that the Catholic Church strongly condemned the act.

Ambassador Girasoli has also observed that the Zambian economy had grown in the recent past due to favourable economic environment in the country. He said it was recognisable that the economy had recorded positive strides in the last five years of his stay in Zambia.

He that said among many factors that have contributed to the improvement of the economy were the favourable international economic developments.

Ambassador Girasoli pointed out that there was need to recognise the role of economic growth in the country and ensure that it benefitted all citizens.

“We must acknowledge the role of this growth and we must also see that this growth benefits the majority of the population,” he noted.

[pullquote]“What we see unfortunately is this gap between the rich and the poor is unfortunately becoming wider,” he said.[/pullquote]

However, Ambassador Girasoli noted that the economic growth that had taken place in Zambia in the recent past had not fully benefitted the ordinary Zambian people.

“What we see unfortunately is this gap between the rich and the poor is unfortunately becoming wider,” he said.

Ambassador Girasoli therefore suggested that it was important to allow citizens to have more access to the use of Zambia’s natural resources in order for them to come out of poverty.

He explained that citizens should have access to natural resources because they essentially belonged to them and not to Government.

ZANIS

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) in Chipata Central Constituency in Eastern Province has called on its Provincial chairperson Lucas Phiri to immediately step down accusing him of dividing the party.

The Constituency Executive Committee said that the PF leader has no popularity within the party because of dictatorial and divisive leadership causing divisions among party members.

Constituency Secretary William Phiri told ZANIS in Chipata that PF in Chipata Central resolved at a meeting held on 16th April, to call on their Provincial leader to step down after all efforts to dialogue over his failure to lead the party failed.

He said the party was disappointed with the behaviour of Mr Phiri who he said had grown big headed and sidelined all duly elected party leaders in preference for people that supported all his deeds even when they were not in the interest of the PF.

“He has failed to maintain peace within the executive as he has been sidelining some members of the executive,” Mr Phiri charged.

The Party’s Constituency Secretary said the PF provincial chairperson had brought anarchy to the leadership and was intolerant of any kind of criticism
aimed at improving the party in Eastern Province.

He accused Mr Phiri of intimidating and humiliating party members who criticised him saying the PF Provincial Chairperson labelled them as rebels belonging to the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

The Constituency Secretary also alleged that Mr Phiri had been holding public rallies in wards and distributing party materials without prior arrangements with the constituency executive.

He also attributed the party’s loss of the Chiparamba Local Government by-election seat to Mr Phiri’s unprofessional leadership saying the Chairperson wanted to do everything without engaging other PF officials.

“Mr Phiri should understand that the party needs a mature leader who can accept criticism and accommodate all members of the party in order to move the PF forward,” he said.

Heritage party president Godrey Miyanda has called for live presidential debates as the country goes to the polls.

Brig. General Godfrey Miyanda says that presidents should be given a platform to sell their manifestos.

Speaking last evening on Monday Nite Live, Gen. Miyanda said that live debates will reduce political violence in the country.

He said that live debates will also allow voters to cast voter based on merit as candidates explain their plan for Zambia.

Gen. Miyanda has further castigated non-issue based politics that do not add value to the Zambian people.

Heritage party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda also stated that the debate whether Zambia should maintain its Christian nation status is irrelevant.

Gen. Miyanda said that the debate has come rather late stating that all the concerns raised, were earlier discussed.

He said that all the augments being brought were addressed before Zambia was declared a Christian nation by Dr. Chiluba’s government.

[QFM]

Residents in Kapesha and Semana villages in Mansa district, Luapula Province today run amok shooting and burning down houses belonging to local businessmen.

It took a combined team of armed Zambia Army, Zambia Police and Zambia National Services (ZNS) Officers to quell the situation around 18:00 hours on Monday.

Zambia Police Spokesperson, Ndandula Siamana also confirmed the development in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Monday evening saying Police Officers have since been deployed to Mansa to help calm the situation.

ZANIS reports that one local businessman who was a money lender only identified as Walty was also burnt to death in Kapesha bringing the number of those so far burnt to death over accusations of ritual killings to three.

Police clad in riot gears fought running battles with the riotous mobs in Kapesha, Semana, and Mansa Central business district.

In Mansa Central business district, the riotous mob also looted three shops belonging to a local businessman of Indian origin Ibrahim Sanaullar popularly known as Amico.

[pullquote]“It’s not true that the people who were killed yesterday were ritual killers because one of the victims was a grade 12 pupil at a named school while the other was a local farmer. What is sad is that there were no reports of anyone killed for ritual killings in the districts” he said[/pullquote]

The businessman also had his house on Mansa airport road destroyed. The mob were seen hauling fridges, mattresses, blankets and assorted essentials like cooking oil,mealie meal and sugar from three shops.

A garage belonging to Irene Chilongo the owner of Tedja Lodge was also attacked by the riotous crowd who burnt one of her trucks.

Mrs. Chilongo’s residential house was also destroyed by the riotous mob. Meanwhile, another house belonging to a local businessman near Kasasa market was burnt to ashes during the riot on Monday afternoon.

The residents also barricaded Chembe Mansa and Mansa Kashikishi roads with heaps of stones and branches blocking traffick getting into town.

However,traffick was running normally on Mansa –Samfya road today. The riot started around 14:00 hours Monday and was only thwarted in the evening at 18:00 hours by a combined team of Police, Army and ZNS officers who managed to round up a few riotous people and retrieved looted goods from Amico shops.

Angry villagers in Senama area of Mansa district yesterday burnt to death two unidentified middle-aged men whom they suspected of being ritual killers.

And Zambia Police Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said the police command has since deplored more Police Officers from Lusaka to help quell the situation. Ms Ndandula said the officers were deployed Monday afternoon to Mansa to help calm the situation.

And Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has warned perpetrators of violence in Mansa of arrest and would be charged for accomplice murder and damage to property.

According to a separate statement, the Spokesperson availed to ZANIS, however, Mr Kabonde said that the violence which started Sunday night had continued to be perpetrated in broad day light today (Monday) and refuted all stories of suspected ritual killings saying the police had not recorded any case of such kind.

“It’s not true that the people who were killed yesterday were ritual killers because one of the victims was a grade 12 pupil at a named school while the other was a local farmer. What is sad is that there were no reports of anyone killed for ritual killings in the districts” he said

Mr. Kabonde has since appealed to people of Mansa to remain calm as Police has sent reinforcement to restore peace and order in the area.

“I appeal to peace loving Zambians in Mansa to be calm as police have been send to as reinforcement to calm and restore order by all means” he said.

ZANIS

National Restoration Party (NAREP) Secretary General John Phiri has alleged that people in Munali constituency wants change of representative following alleged failure of area Member of Parliament (MP) to deliver development.

Mr. Phiri has accused incumbent Munali Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) of failing to deliver development to the constituents.

He has also refuted claims by Mrs. Phiri that NAREP is sponsoring students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) to de-campaign her ahead of this years’ general elections.

Mr. Phiri told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the youths and people of Munali are not happy with the developments achieved in the area during the reign of Mrs. Phiri.

He said the people are disappointed with PF and Mrs. Phiri of failing to address the problem of roads, health posts and other needs of the community.

Mr. Phiri who has also shown interest in contesting the Munali Parliamentary seat under NAREP in this year’s elections has also
doubted the popularity of PF in the area.

He said people will vote for the capability of individuals and not for the party.

He has since advised Mrs. Phiri to appreciate the little she has done for the constituency rather than complain of her failing popularity.

Mr. Phiri has also cautioned people to scrutinise candidates who will be vying for public office in this year’s general elections.

He said people should vote for persons who can deliver and not the political party they represent.

Press reports indicate that Mrs Phiri has since accused those called for new representation in Munali as having been sponsored.

ZANIS

The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has castigated former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti for attacking public media institutions.

PAZA Executive Secretary, Patson Phiri said it was unfair for a former minister who also served under the Information and Broadcasting Services Ministry to accuse the public media of being biased in their news coverage.

Mr. Phiri challenged Mr. Mulongoti to explain what major contributions he made towards improvement of operations of the public media when he served as a minister.

He said Mr. Mulongoti failed to address the plight of public media during his time and wondered why he had to wait all this time until he was fired to speak evil about the public media.

Mr. Phiri told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr. Mulongoti’s remarks were only meant to please the opposition.

He said public media institutions have an obligation to highlight the many developmental projects the Government of the day was undertaking in the country.

He defended their operations saying it was through the same media that many people were now aware and appreciated Government for its works aimed at developing and uplifting their living standards.

[pullquote]He said Mr. Mulongoti failed to address the plight of public media during his time and wondered why he had to wait all this time until he was fired to speak evil about the public media.[/pullquote]

Mr. Phiri advised the former Minister to examine whether the same private media he was now supporting was objective and ethical in their reporting.

He also advised Mr. Mulongoti to stop issuing unnecessary statements when he was aggrieved but rather seek dialogue.

Mr. Mulogoti yesterday lashed out at the three Public media particularly the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia charging that they were biased in their news coverage.

Mr. Mulongoti who featured on a live Mobi Television Programme dubbed Open Forum said the public media was biased and lacked credibility.

The Former Minister who also used the same public media to attack his perceived enemies when he was in Government said news in the public media was one sided and only centered on President Rupiah Banda and his government.

He also charged that editors in the public media had lost credibility and their ethics as they were not serving the public interest but the interest of the ruling Government and President Banda.

The former minister claimed that when he was Information Minister in charge he gave out licenses to various media institutions for them to operate freely and not to be confined to covering only the Government of the day.

And when asked whether he would accept any appointment from Government if he was appointed to any portfolio, Mr. Mulongoti said there was nothing left for him to benefit from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Mr. Mulongoti said he had other ambitions in which he would explore to contribute to the nation’s development.

ZANIS

Non-Governmental organisations have described
the trend of fathers molesting their biological daughters as an unforgiveable and an immoral act.

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Executive Director Anne
Ngwira said such an act was the worst kind and should be condemned in
the strongest terms.

Mrs. Ngwira stated that the act was a sin and uncalled for behaviour which was not even animal like because animals protected their young ones and did not molest them.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, the Executive Director
urged mothers not to conceal such atrocities but to report them to save their children’s lives.

She further said women needed to be more aggressive in such matters but was however quick to note that their economic vulnerability contributed to them not reporting such cases adding that this was a sad development.

She said men who were destroying lives of their female children needed
spiritual transformation and should desist from such activities.

Meanwhile, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) National
Coordinator Nelson Mwape has called on society to play an active role
in educating each other against such vices.

Mr. Mwape said Zambia had rules and regulations which were supposed to
be abided by stressing that the bible did not equally allow carnal knowledge of children by their parents.

He noted that some mothers were aware of what was happening in their families but instead opted to remain silent adding that this was wrong and such acts should be exposed.

He encouraged mothers to expose their husbands for the betterment of
their children describing such situations as abnormal.

Mr. Mwape said there was urgent need to get to the root cause of the
problem and called on all concerned stakeholders to come up with a
campaign to help address the issue.

He added that the campaign should include both men and women who should work together and observed that cases of women molesting under age children was equally happening.

Turning to the media, Mr. Mwape further said there was also need for the media to expose child defilers in an effort to curb such acts instead of taking photos of victims who were already traumatised.

”it is our duty as parents to protect, guide and provide for our children and once we start molesting them we are not performing our duty but instead we are damaging their lives,”Mr Mwape noted.

ZANIS