AFTER what they described as years of soul searching, reflection, anguish and intimidation some married priests in Zambia mainly from the Catholic Church have decided to come out in the open and begin conducting mass under the auspices of the Movement for Married Priests.

The Movement founded by excommunicated Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was launched last September amidst fears that it would establish a new sect in Africa funded by Reverend Sun Myung Moon as a rival to Roman Catholicism.

The Movement for Married Priests Now- Zambia Chapter had a rally last weekend to mark the commencement of its activities in Zambia with a call to all priests that have married secretly to come out in the open and renounce priesthood celibacy.

Father Anzanga Mbewe a married priest who was ordained to priesthood by late Ndola Catholic Bishop De Jong defied a longstanding tradition of celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church with his colleagues and are now open disciples of Milingo.

Though one will not hear a great deal about married Roman Catholic priests the truth is that they do exist. Some estimates place their number at around 20 per cent of all Roman Catholic priests in the world. This would mean that 20 per cent of all Roman Catholic priests are officially and legally married, even though celibacy continues to be a requirement.

Father Mbewe believes that married priests in the movement are part of the Roman Catholic Church and continue to acknowledge the existing leadership in the Catholic Church as their own.

They are passionate about exercising the faith. Father Mbewe even conducted mass at Masiye Motel in Lusaka where all baptised brothers and sisters who support the idea of priests marrying had fellowship.

Father Mbewe says that Brazil has recorded the biggest movement of married priests called National Catholic and Apostolic Church of Brazil which boasts of some four million members and more than 50 bishops, the movement is gathering pace around the world at a fast rate and some have wondered whether Archbishop Milingo will use the movement to establish a new version of the Catholic Church.

Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president, Telesphore Mpundu clarified the status of the former Archbishop of Lusaka, Emmanuel Milingo, in the light of media reports that he was planning to come back to Zambia.

“We reiterate that the former Archbishop has been excommunicated. Excommunication means that he is no longer part of the Catholic Church. By his own actions, he has knowingly and willingly cut himself off from the Catholic Church. He therefore cannot preside over any religious function in the name of the Catholic Church. If indeed he wants to come back to Zambia, it is within his rights to return to his homeland. However, we urge our Catholic faithfuls to be aware that if he holds religious functions, then those ceremonies will be done outside the Catholic Church. Therefore they are not Catholic services.” Bishop Mpundu said.

The Vatican said in September that Milingo and the four men he ordained as bishops were “automatically excommunicated” under Church law.

Father Mbewe described Milingo as a legend who has been made stronger by his excommunication. He said Milingo’s association with the Unification Church should not be misunderstood as Rev Moon has merely offered him a platform.”Excommunicating Milingo was the biggest mistake Vatican made because they have made him more stronger, this can only be compared to what happened when they expelled Martin Luther King in 1520. They elevated Martin Luther to be the founder of the Protestant movement. Vatican has given Milingo power to establish a new version of the Catholic Church.” Father Mbewe charged.

Father Mbewe says that since the Pope ordained Milingo in 1969 he has had special powers that cannot be revoked by anyone, adding that he transferred apostolic power to the four bishops that he ordained in New York to begin an effective global movement to call for an end to priesthood celibacy.

Critics say that the present policy of the Church on celibacy is inconsistent. The Catholic Church has married priests in the Eastern Rites. Moreover, in recent decades, Rome has allowed the ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood of married ministers who had converted from the Anglican Communion or from Protestant denominations. They have argued that some men may be married priests and others may not.

Archbishop Milingo said the Catholic Church should embrace more than 150,000 married priests worldwide in part to ease the ongoing clergy shortage and to elevate the sanctity of marriage.Milingo insists he is still Catholic in faith, his heart and soul and any service that he performed would be of the Catholic faith and would bring healing to the people of Zambia.

Bishop Mpundu said that the Church had heard that Archbishop Milingo had intentions of coming to Zambia and advised Catholics that his functions would not be recognised by the Church.

But Milingo has insisted that for the love of the people of Zambia and of all Africa he will not exclude anyone who will come to his healing sessions.

Times of Zambia

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has welcomed the National Constitution Conference (NCC) Bill which has been tabled before parliament.

And AVAP has commended government for being transparent and inclusive in the
drafting of the NCC Bill which is now before Parliament.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today
that  his organisation is satisfied that the proposed NCC Bill provides for broad
representation of the Zambian people in adopting the new republican constitution.

Mr Tembo further said that the powers and functions of the NCC will help the people
to effectively participate through their representatives in the constitution making
process.

Mr Tembo has however advised government to ensure that it advertises the NCC Bill in
the print media to enable the public people understand what the Bill is purposed to
achieve.

He said Zambians should be given an opportunity to understand the Bill for them to
effectively hold government and members of parliament accountable for their actions
in  the constitution making process.

Mr Tembo said the civil society, NGO’s, church and political parties among others
should also take a leading role in sensitizing people country wide in order for the
people to develop a sense of ownership and responsibility in the constitution making
process.

He added that members of parliament should also play their part by widely consulting
their constituents on the NCC Bill to ensure that people are part and parcel of the
process.

Mr Tembo  said people’s  participation was critical if the country is to realize a
people driven constitution.

He commended the ministry of justice for embracing some critical proposals from the
Constitutional Awareness Network(CNN) which he said added value to the NCC Bill.

Mr Tembo appealed to the government  to continuously  update the nation on the
constitution making process

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting  Services Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Nyirenda says commercial photographers will not be accredited to cover the SADC Heads of State and governments summit in Lusaka next week.

Mr. Nyirenda said at a press briefing today that only photographers taking photos
for news purposes will be accredited to cover the summit.

He said journalists covering the arrival of heads of state and government at the
Lusaka International Airport will be restricted by way of a cordon, adding that
those that wanting to interview foreign leaders will have to make their own
arrangmenents.

Mr. Nyirenda also said entry to the state banquet will be restricted.

He pointed out that journalists that would like want to link to their home countries
via satellite will have to make their own arrangements with the Zambia
Telecommunication company (ZAMTEL).

Mr. Nyirenda announced that journalists covering the summit will use the media
centre at the summit venue.

The Permanent Secretary emphasised the need for journalists to obtain proper
accreditation before the summit day to avoid inconveniences.

Meanwhile, SADC Head of Corporate Communications Unit, Leefa Martin said SADC
Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao would hold a press brieifng at Mulungushi
International Conference Centre tomorrow.

Ms. Martin said Dr. salomao could not manage to hold a brieifng today because he was
held up in Johannesburg.

The 27th SADC heads of state and government officially at the Mulungushi
International Conference on 15th August.

Drug Enforcement Commissioner (DEC), Ryan Chitoba has been suspended.

Mr. Chitoba is suspended with immediate effect.

This is in order to pave way for the on-going investigations on alleged abuse of office against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganje announced Mr. Chitoba’s suspension in a statement issued to ZNBC news in Lusaka.

Dr. Kanganje said in the meantime Inspector-General of Police Ephraim Mateyo will over-see the operations of the DEC.

The ACC has been investigating Mr. Chitoba for abuse of office.

ACC Director General, Nixon Banda confirmed this last week.

GOVERNMENT says it will hold the Oasis Forum responsible for any lawlessness which may occur during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of State Summit in Lusaka.

The Oasis Forum are planning to hold peaceful demonstrations for five-days during the SADC Summit next week.

The intention is to picket leaders in the region over the perceived disagreement over constitution-making process in Zambia.

But Minister of Justice, George Kunda, said yesterday in Lusaka that it was unfortunate that the Oasis Forum and those bent on derailing the constitutional review process intended to demonstrate against the government during the SADC heads of State summit with a view to compelling Government to follow their constitution review Roadmap.

“Oasis Forum will be held responsible for any damage to property, loss of life or lawlessness which may occur during their planned demonstrations during the Southern Africa Development Community heads of State summit,” he said.

Mr Kunda said demonstrations were not necessary under present circumstances as Government was putting in place a broadly representative body, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), to adopt the constitution or any part of the constitution as recommended by the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

“As Zambians, we are law-abiding and peaceful and should not ferment chaos or lawlessness, especially when we receive distinguished leaders from the SADC region,” he said.

Mr Kunda said in drafting the NCC Bill, Government had consulted stakeholders and accommodated divergent views.

And Minister of Home Affairs, Ronnie Shikapwasha, said the Oasis Forum and the Consultative Group on the Constitution could not guarantee that their planned demonstrations would be peaceful because they were unable to detect elements that may try to disturb the peace.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview yesterday in Lusaka that any planned demonstrations during the summit could not be allowed to proceed because they were a major security risk.

He said the arguments put forward by the two groups that it was their democratic right to hold peaceful demonstrations “did not hold water”, as it was also the democratic right of Government to maintain law and order, especially during a gathering such as the SADC summit.

“There is really no need for anyone to demonstrate.

We are in control of the security situation in the country and we do not want to see a situation where our visitors will think that we are not, after all, a peaceful country,” he said.

Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha said the Zambia Police Service was capable of dealing with all the security issues of the country and that Government would support them.

Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, said he had not seen the notice given by the two groups on their planned demonstrations.

He said, however, that the Lusaka Police Division may have received the notice and that the department would make a decision in the best interest of the nation.

Chilanga Constituency Member of Parliament,  Ngandu Mangande has called on the opposistion to work together with government to foster development in the country.

Mr. Magande says the opposition and ruling party, should bury their political differences to accelearte development.

Mr. Magande said this in Lusaka today when he handed over three sewing machines and K200,000 cash to the May Flower Women’s Club in Chilanga.

He further challenged Councilors in his constituency to be pro active and explain
government programes to people in rural areas.

Mr. Magande who is also Finance and National Planning Minister restated governments
committed to empowering women with income generating ventures so that they could
sustain themselves.

The donation was necessitated by Ms. Joyce Muwo, a renowned Lusaka business woman.

Last year, Mr. Magande donated seed to the May Flower Womens Club which they planted during the last farming season.

And receiving the donation, May Flower Womenæs Club Chairperson Nora Banda commended both Mr. Magande and Ms. Muwo for the gesture.

Ms. Banda disclosed that her organisation is expected to harvest 40 x 50 kilogram
bags of maize.