THE Catholic Church in Zambia does not support the Patriotic Front (PF) or any political party and will not allow any politician to ascend to public office using the name of the church, Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu has said.
He said the Catholic faithful would instead be encouraged to vote for candidates who would contribute positively and effectively to national development regardless of their political affiliation.
In a letter addressed to MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba, dated March 15, 2010, Archbishop Mpundu said the Catholic Church leaders were not “king makers” and had never told their followers which political party, presidential or parliamentary candidate to vote for.
“Nobody, therefore, has ever ridden, can or will ever ride to Manda Hill (National Assembly) or to Plot number 1 (State House) on the back of the Catholic Church either by playing a ‘Catholic Card’ or maligning the Catholic Church.
“All we tell the Catholic faithful is to vote for candidates they are reasonably sure will contribute positively and effectively to national development regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.
What the Zambian people wanted was a president who would be the choice of the majority of voters in a free, fair and transparent election.
He said there was a diversity of political opinions and affiliation in the Catholic Church, which the leaders encouraged, cherished and of which they were proud.
“Among your party members are found many Catholics like yourself, some of whom are senior members of the Cabinet.
“Naturally there are also some Catholics who belong to other political parties, this is healthy and that is what it should be.”
Archbishop Mpundu said what should unite Zambians was not religion, tribe or race but their common values, heritage, destiny and human solidarity.
The letter was in response to Dr Kalumba’s concern over statements by a PF Copperbelt Province youth secretary that the PF would provide security to a Ndola Catholic Diocese priest, Augustine Mwewa and the church in general following perceived threats from some MMD members.
According to the letter, the Catholic Church did not need any special security and had never accepted any offer of such security from anybody as the PF cadre was alleged to have discussed on a radio station.
The prelate also said he had never belonged to any political party and would never join partisan politics.
Archbishop Mpundu said the Catholic bishops, priests or religious brothers and sisters drove themselves everywhere they went, including remote places, without body guards.
“Whenever we avail ourselves of the services of private security firms on Church premises it is to guard Church property, not to protect the bishops or clergy from political violence.
“We still have a good deal of confidence in the ability of the Zambia Police Service, notwithstanding their many challenges, to protect the public which we are part of,” he said.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has described as wishful thinking PF president Michael Sata’s claim that his party has gained popularity in the province.
Mr Munkombwe said PF, even after getting into a pact with the United Party for National Development (UPND), had not made any inroads into Southern Province as claimed by Mr Sata.
Mr Munkombwe said in an interview yesterday that the PF-UPND pact had actually cost it popularity in the province.
He said Mr Sata was a man who thought he could control everyone, hence his statement that his party had gained the support of the Southerners.
[Times of Zambia]
