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SATA Rebuffs Mazombwe’s Sermon Of Reconciliation And Says He will Not Reconcile With Thieves
REPUBLICAN President Michael Sata has rebuffed and downplayed demands by Cardinal Medado Mazombwe to foster reconciliation and forgiveness. Mr Sata further disclosed that he would have been a Priest in his life.
Speaking at a Special Thanksgiving Mass hosted by Cardinal Medado Mazombwe at St. Ignatius Church, Mr. Sata said biblical teachings were clear about the commandments and the consequences of breaking them.
In his sermon, Cardinal Mazombwe called for a leadership in the country that forgives, promotes unity and fosters reconciliation.
He called for a leadership in the country that will emulate Africa’s great statesman, Nelson Mandela who he said forgave his oppressors and encouraged his people to reconcile with a race that had brutalised and committed greater crimes against them.
He also called on a leadership that emulates and walks the footsteps of Jesus Christ, sacrifices for the greater good. He also looked for a leadership that will be called adjectives referred to Mandela such as, “a son of Africa”, ’’a son of God’’.
He said leadership should not be used for oppression but should be an agent of social change to be used to empower vulnerable groups and eradication of poverty.
He said Zambia is endowed with abundant wealth and it therefore required a leadership that will use these resources to lift people out of poverty.
He said he expected Mr. Sata to help eradicate poverty by taking measures that should mitigate the situation.
But in his response, Mr. Sata referred to the Bible stating that it doesn’t contradict itself as it is clear that the Bible doesn’t tolerate thieves.
“If somebody has stolen, he has stolen. You cannot eat bread when your neighbours are hungry” He emphasised.
Mr. Sata who was accompanied to church, by Defence Minister , Godfrey Mwamba and former minister Lameck Mangani, Minister of Health Dr. Joseph Kasonde, Local Government Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo and Jean Kapata, insisted that it is in fact Chilonga Mission in Mpika which has produced a president and not St. Ignatius.
Mr. Sata also paid glowing tributes to the late Jesuit Priest, Father Devensky Mia and called him a great man who lived his life for poor people.
Mr. Sata said as a first catholic president of Zambia, he will use the structures of the church to fight poverty to help transform the lives of the people.
“The catholic small communities are closer to the people than government and other politicians’’. He said.
He also mocked the state media who use to disparage him claiming he can never be president but where now falling over each other to cover him now that he was president.
He compared himself to Sara who bore a child when he was 90 years.
He called on young people to emulate his perseverance and persistence that helped become president.
He also acknowledged Cardinal Mazombwe who he said helping him build him spiritually.
He said when he was Minister of Health, Medado Mazombwe pleaded with him to help rural missions. He said government later built a health centre which was opened by second president, Dr. Frederick Chiluba.
St Ignatius Parish will on Sunday afternoon hold a special thanksgiving mass for President Michael Sata.
Mr. Sata is Zambia’s first Catholic president. Sunday’s mass was presided over by Cardinal Medado Mazombwe.
Mr. Sata has been devout Catholic all his life and is a dedicated congregant at St. Ignatius occupying his seat in the middle of the pew which he still maintains even after ascending to the presidency.
First President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda went to the protestant church United Church of Zambia (UCZ). Second President, Frederick Chiluba was initially a UCZ member till 1981 when he became born again. Chiluba declared Zambia a Christian Nation and promoted the growth of Pentecostal and evangelical churches.
The third president, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was a Jehovah’s Witness until the Church ex-communicated him and his wife Maureen. The couple joined the Baptist and Mwanawasa was baptised there.
Resident Rupiah Banda was said to have been born again but has Islamic and Reformed Church past.
Posted by Editor
on October 31, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Better days are coming
October 31, 2011 at 8:49 am
What i dont understand with this issue of calling for forgiveness (rather than accountability) is that surely, if president Sata forgives the thieves as it where, then his governement can equally steal because the next president will also have to forgive him/them. Then we are not solving anything really. It means you can steal with impunity because you will be forgiven, its a shame.
chikayeba
October 31, 2011 at 9:25 am
I agree with HE that those that wronged the Zambians by stealing from them should be dealt with accordingly. How else are we going to justify the need to root out corruption. People who occupied office and used that to steal should be brought to book. You can only forgive those that repent their sins. But if one seeks forgiveness because they are in a weaker possition than they were before and do not show repentance, they do not deserve forgiveness, but a visit from the long arm of the law.
mafupa yokoyoko
October 31, 2011 at 9:27 am
guyz sata is not against reconciliation,he just want the truth to be known.plz dont mislead pipo with yo funny headlines.
CHINGOLAN
October 31, 2011 at 10:02 am
ba Tumfweko, Fr. Mihia was not a Jesuit priest but a Conventaul Franciscan Friar
Xaviour Xhonsolo
October 31, 2011 at 10:04 am
The God almighty,the merciful and forgiving,wil neva forgive a soul which does not repent,confess and ask for forgiviness.How then can the president forgive a thief which does not confess.The bishop lacks the Biblical understanding the president has.
prince
October 31, 2011 at 10:14 am
its a shame that the church is advocating for thieving politicians to go free. My understanding is that the wrong doers should be forgiven but ay the same time made accountable and punished for their wrongs. People should understand that out there lack adequate medical care because resources have been abuses ,children from poor commuties are out in the streets because some out there full with lust for greed have abused the nations rosources. The list goes on……………..
Lessons and examples have to be made that stealing does not pay. Mr President, its now or never!!!!
waku malawi
October 31, 2011 at 10:21 am
Mr President should heed the church’s call. Forgive and move ahead. Develop Zambia, those hunts will drain tax payers money with legal charges
TRUTH
October 31, 2011 at 10:38 am
Mr President is right.If we forgive them we will definately encourage more thieves and the fight againist corruption will be compromised.
mafupa yokoyoko
October 31, 2011 at 10:48 am
ba tumfweko guys wats the rush?,get facts first coz u make a lot of wat can be classified as silly mistakes……………….
Sejer Lee
October 31, 2011 at 11:04 am
Let’s not misunderstand the Cardinal, what he meant when he talked about forgiveness was not that thieves should go scot free, no! He meant that we as Christians should not hate a person and wish him bad rather we should hate his conduct and help him to change. One way of helping these thieves to change is to make them realize their wrong doings by allowing the law of the land to take its course. The process of the law is in a way rehabilitative and transformative. So then, when we applying the law, we should not be harbouring hatred on a person; on the contrary, we should do it with the love of bringing about transformation in these thieves. The forgiveness being preahed, therefore, is that of recognizing the thief as a creature of God and desiring this creature to change for the better by applying the laws that govern us. I rest my case.
Sir Evol
October 31, 2011 at 11:21 am
Please zambians lets be realistic,the president is clear about his stance because the only person to be forgiven is the one who regrets for his/her deeds and come in the open and tell the people.but Rupiah doesnt want to come in open to tell the nation how he misused the resources and wants to be forgiven for what,,so reconciliation only comes when someone repents.so let our president go ahead for his stance and let the law enforce prevails,,,,,
mwembe
October 31, 2011 at 11:22 am
This is nonsense!! Political thieves to be forgiven, what of those who just stole out of pure need and hunger, and are currently serving time in jail?
Ku Chiwempala
October 31, 2011 at 11:24 am
Some people really believe that Sata will crucify RB. Forget. So RB was an islamist?
buffalo
October 31, 2011 at 11:29 am
Sata is right.Is the man of GOD telling us that stealing should continue because we will be forgiven.Nay ta.
Kandanga
October 31, 2011 at 11:42 am
Let me give counsel to preachers. Firstly stop preaching sermons to one person. If they need to give counsel to President Sata, let them go and see him at his work place. Preaching from the Pulpit how a president should rule a country is using the pulpit contratry to its purpose.
Secondly, I wish preachers who wish to preach to the President messages of forgiveness would complete the story of how God works. God forgave David, but David reaped the consequences of his behavior.
Thirdly, I applaud the courage of President Sata to clearly state his position. When those in church leadership make statements that are trying to control how the president rules, it is good that our President Sata does not keep quite but rather articulate his belief. I must admit that President Sata is an intelligent leader and a great pyschologist.
buffalo
October 31, 2011 at 11:46 am
I couldn’t believe my ears yesterday when I listened to the interview between Brig gen Godffrey Miyanda and Kunda Mando.Among some of the issues the gen touched were the issue of president Sata breaching the law.He explained that it was wrong for Sata to retire 28 senoir army officers because they have families and that the military should not be toyed with.I totally disagree with Miyanda for the following:the notion that the military are super human and should not be retired even if they atre passed retirement age is plain ****** and miopic.It’s this kind of warped thinking that create dispondency and mischief in the army and indeed anywhere else.If all who should retire stay on when are the junoir officres going to be promoted?secondly whenever president Sata does something especially on appointments and disappointments he usually quotes the relevant law or statute that empowers him to do so.
Is Sata the first president to retire senior army officers?When Chilube assumed power he got rid of a number,Mwanawasa and his successor Ruphiar Banda did the same.Why did Miyanda question that?
The generals’ critisim have no bases and smacks of jealous.He was vice president and was quiet when innocent generals and colonels were being fired and retired just because of being related to former republican president Kenneth Kaunda through marriage and otherwise.
Ba Miyanda you have no political future.Your village concept have no room in modern life.Allow Sata to lead us because we gave him the mandate.
cacilamo
October 31, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Batumfweko, point of correction, Fr. Miha Drevensky is Franciscan Priest not Jesuit Priest.
Ndoshzi
October 31, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Also REMEMBER!
NINE LESA UUKANDA NEBELE UMWANA ANWAKO.
In Genesis God warned that if you wrong God, He is also God of jealousy who destroys the inequity of the father through the third and fourth generation.
God warned that he cannot forget your wrongs if you don’t heed his words. God says even your children can be punished for your sins.
Isaac Kalongelwa
October 31, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Just a point of correction. Late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was initially a member of the United Church of Zambia and used to congregate at St. Andrews in Ndola and was Vice President of the Boys Brigade in Zambia up to 2001.
The Jehovahs’ Witness issue only came later when he moved to Lusaka after 1991 and was never a communicant member but just used to congregate with them until he became Republican President when he switched to the Baptist Church through the help of his uncle Mr Leslie Mbula & other maternal cousins, the Mokola’s, who are predominantly Baptist.
Williams
October 31, 2011 at 12:35 pm
A thief is a thief and no 1 shud b above the law.. Cardinal pliz allow the nation 2 recover its lost resources by bring 2 book those tht robbed it.. Dont encourage pipo 2 misappropriate public resource…
Ex-zamtelgirl
October 31, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Ine nipabwato fye.mr President dont worry Galatians 6v7 supots you.
Govt of Monkeys in a Maize Field
October 31, 2011 at 1:11 pm
‘Infact its chilonga mission not st ignatius which has produced a president’…..sounds really disparaging for the bishop and his congregation. The president must learn basic humility and calm down, he is heading in the wrong direction so far.
Bullman
October 31, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Lets not be selective in our reference to the bible. Thieving is indeed not permitted in the bible. So is lying. When you drum up people in order to send an individual to jail is as good as stealing. It is not the Presidents place to hang an individual even before investigations are concluded. Rather the President puts in place stringent financial control measures to stop people from ever stealing from the people of Zambia again. As we speak individuals are stealing in the PF govt left, right and center. Controls simply do not exist. forget about MMD govt and focus eliminating poverty through a pro poor driven agenda like community based development programs – road and drainage works, water works etc.
Mac B
October 31, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Just a point of collection. Fr. Miha was not a Jesuit priest, but a Conventual Franciscan Friar. May He rest in Peace
irrationalman
October 31, 2011 at 1:36 pm
RB mohamad saif islam. what kind of a person whoz religious views are not clear
Bullman
October 31, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I do not understanding our President. On one side he retires Generals and on the other side he appoints retired civil servants and wants to increase the retirement age to 65. Is this not a serious contradiction?
CHEZEMAN
October 31, 2011 at 1:54 pm
wrong is wrong lets change the way we carry ourselves
Dien
October 31, 2011 at 2:21 pm
YOU RECALL MY ARGUMENT ON WHY IT IS WRONG TO DECLARE THIS COUNTRY A CHRISTIAN NATION?
THERE IS NOTHING CHRISTIAN ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IN ACTIONS, EXCEPT IN WORDS. YOU ARE NOT “CHRIST-LIKE” BY DECLARATION BUT BY DEEDS.
nckbnd
October 31, 2011 at 2:36 pm
if da bishop wants da president to 4give rb then we shud start wit those that ar in prisons ored coz they had ored ask for 4giveness wen they were bn sentenced by da magestrites and da judges.bt i hav never heard frm stuborn rb askin 4 forgivenes frm us zambians. This issue of 4givnes is vry tricky if we cn forgiv rb and da crew is jst da same as telin da curent cubinet dat u cn stil bt once u live office u wil be 4given.
Ike
October 31, 2011 at 3:07 pm
It is time restored honesty and dignity in public office and already Mwanawasa, though flippant at times, showed us what it meant to serve the puplic by respecting resources under our stewardship.
President Sata is merely fulfilling the mandate that we gave him and he has to begin by cleansing the decaying system which adopted corruption as part of its modus operandi. When the fish is rotten from the head, then know that even the whole flesh is the same.
Zambia needs to reposition itself in the sense of discipline towards work and morality in the dispensation of justice, stewardship, patriotism & public service.
Wren
October 31, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Let me correct what I quote from your news ba tumfweko “Mr. Sata also paid glowing tributes to the late Jesuit Priest, Father Devensky Mia and called him a great man who lived his life for poor people.” This is misleading. Fr. Miha was a Franciscan Conventual friar or priest and not a Jesuit. Please don’t frustrate the fight against corruption church leaders. Your preaching of forgiveness and reconciliation is an encouragement to those in our offices to continue stealing when many of our people continue to suffer.
christal
October 31, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Have the courts found the mmd guilty? or RB guilty of stealing? Why the whole entire president always judging pipo? This issue of st ignitius, chilonga, catholic this and that is irritating to say the least! pliz sata tone down on your language you are a republican president now. This country is not for catholics only twa papata.
christal
October 31, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Am still waiting for more money in my pockets, dont try to divert my attention as you a used to pliz deliver pipo are starving.
Better days are coming
October 31, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Well said Sejer Lee, but really, you are putting words in the Cardinals mouth. He didnt mean it that way/the way u are implying, he literally mearnt to forgive them of their crimes, no charges/investigation. Because really, if the cardinal meant it that way, he would have been categorical in his speech but he never mentioned anything suggesting to that effect hence HEMCS could not agree.
Katiya Toonse
October 31, 2011 at 4:21 pm
I, honestly do not follow what Mazombwe was on about.
NOBODY HAS BEEN CONVICTED YET SINCE THIS PF GOVERNMENT CAME INTO POWER. SO WHO IS TO BE FORGIVEN AND FOR WHAT CRIME?
Is Mazombwe implying that the ongoing investigations must be halted?
IF ANY MONEY WAS INDEED STOLEN, WE WANT THAT MONEY BACK, period. [Thereafter, people like Mazombwe can opt to plead for forgiveness - NOT BEFORE!!!]
THIS IS A CLEAR MATTER OF COMMON SENSE. [HWO DOES ONE FORGIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT EVEN CHARGED YET, LET ALONE GUILTY OF ANY CRIME?]
SK
October 31, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Some of these priests and pastors are been used to lobby for forgiveness by thieves from MMD and this should not be tolerated. Even HH is afraid because he messed up the privatisation of state assets. We need accountability for all the assets which were undervalued and disposed off.
Phiri M Francisco
October 31, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Mr. President plz honour this man by dclaring a national morning.
Musonda
October 31, 2011 at 8:07 pm
well put
gologolo
October 31, 2011 at 8:07 pm
if sata wants to deal with coruption in the previous govt.why is he allowing the likes of lameck mangani near him .who doesnt know mangani was a trustee to RB.come on pipo lets not be bias.n pretend to have 4gotten.sweep the yard around u n then ur neigbours.
Batu Pili
October 31, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@MacB…Point of coRRection not coLLection…