We are extremely disappointed at the double standardness being exhibited by our three church mother bodies that have decided to take partisan interest in favor of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF). We expected the said church mother bodies to speak against the inhuman treatment the people of Zambia have suffered at the hands of the PF since it assumed power some thirteen months ago.
Since the PF took over government from the “ailing” Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) rejected by people for its affinity towards corruption, the country has witnessed not only a gross abuse of the rule of law but general moral degradation. While expecting the general citizenry to observe the rule of law, government officials have with impunity disregarded it forcing people to question the PF government’s willingness to uphold the rule of law it professed over the administration of this country.
President Michael Sata is on record as having have said the country under the PF government would be ruled by rule of law as interpreted by the Ten Commandments. He promised the nation that his government will abide by the demands of the constitution. In his usual pronouncements, the president on behalf of his government promised to deal with any body found violating the constitution without lawful excuse.
But what we have witnessed in this one year of the PF in leadership is completely the opposite of what people expected from the much acclaimed government led by the “Man of Action” himself. We have seen how government has abused the human rights against his perceived political opponents, how the living standards of people have degenerated to extent that some people are almost getting destitute in the once upon at time country of plenty, how government officials are championing corrupt activities as though there was no law to cow them from doing the criminal act under our laws and how the essential commodities are being fazing out of the country forcing people to begin leading a destitute life.
In all these instances, the three church mother bodies have done nothing to make their voices heard or to show their displeasure at the sad happenings in the country. The sad part of it is that some church leaders are on record having spoken against the happenings in this government when they were committed by leaders in the previous governments. They partnered with the PF leaders when they were in opposition to criticize the evil vices which today they are scared to speak against.
Today, when they opt to criticize government, they prefer to speak under the auspice of The Oasis Forum when they can do it as a church mother bodies openly. After all this is what they have been doing since time immemorial when the church was called “The Church” and represented their general members at critical moments such as this one when people need the voice and guidance of the church.
This is not going to be the first time for the church to speak against a sitting government. The church did it during the 27 year rule of UNIP and we saw the church taking centre stage in demanding the change of constitution to allow the introduction of the multiparty democracy in the country. Indeed this was done at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
We wonder why the church mother bodies today have decided to cast a blind eye and ear on the evils being perpetrated by some government officials whereas government is secretly trying to muzzle the democracy which houses the freedom of association people have enjoyed this far. We cannot think for a moment that what the church mother bodies is doing is acts of hypocrisy.
We challenge the leaders of our church mother bodies namely the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) to tell the nation why they cannot be called hypocrites. We need not to tell them who a hypocrite is because they are leaders of the most cerebrated leaders. Just in case, they have forgotten, a hypocrite is a person who says something which he cannot put into practice.
Edwin Sakala
National Coordinator
Church Mother Bodies Are Betraying Zambians added by on
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A’Sakala namwe nkoyani ku munzi mukalime!
Mr. Edwin Sakala, Your article is full of bitterness. You still cannot believe your MMD is no longer in power. Your article is long but full of unfounded accusations. You are even more angry because your leaders deliberate attempt to abrogate the law on public order act to seek sympathy from the masses has failed. Are you sure we are worse off now that in the MMD government? Have you forgotten how Rupiah pursued his perceived enemies? Some he succeeded in destroying but some were strong and he failed. Do you remember the Chansa Kabwela issue? Do you remember how he brought down Zambian Airways? How he hounded the late Chibomba Milimo? How he sold Finance bank for a song to get back at Mahtani because he thought he was financing PF? How he haunted Fred Mmembe? How he removed the Abuse of Office clause from the anti corruption act, how he disbanded the task force? how he gobbled more that 200 billion in futile constitution which was rejected by his own parliamentarians? how he influenced Chiluba’s acquital? How he went out to fix Mutembo Nchito? I can go on and on. You seem to have a persecution complex. What you percieve as wrongs the church mother bodies should condemn is not reality but just in you head. You are the hypocrite because the same public order act you relied on when you were in power is the one you want changed now. Why did you not change it when you were in power? It was sweet then but has now become bitter, now that you are not in power. Isn’t that hypocricy?
The church and government should be separate. Sakala get a life and do something like working instead of kissing butts!You should understand how democracy works, the work majority wins. Be patient and wait for 2016 to convince people to vote for you.
Bafikala ba ZICTA pls help us networks have became so poor and yet u are there
Edwin sakala was used to receiving handouts from RB. So life yavuuta. Xmas without food eeh? Yakunyokola.
IF THE CHURCH MOTHER BODIES HAVE YOU, THEN GET THE CHURCH FATHER BODY. SMOKING TOO MUCH EDWIN, UZALEKA LITI. NJALA YAKU NCHAYA MUKWASU.
SORRY I MEANT TO SAY, IF THE CHURCH MOTHER BODIES HAVE FAILED YOU, THEN GET THE CHURCH FATHER BODY.
I guess Mr sakala u over expected or u used 2 benefit from the previous government? They’re others who are enjoying and others ain’t enjoying. That’s the way things are. Sata & others are not perfect so are u, so what u need is to find the platform to express your grievances. Or u want Sata to come from state house 2 give u food or give u work? Though u are saying that they’re not doing anything collect they’re others who are seeing that they are doing something good. Let’s not say anything we want 2 say because good thing ain’t coming away.
where are my comments?
ya nye ponimayu
The fact previous govnt did not do certain things correctly does not mean the current one cannot be criticised for the wrongs they are doing. A thief cannot defend himself by pointing at a bigger thief. Fact is Sata said shall be rule of law. This created expectations and hope which are now fast dissapering, so soon.
@ abena PJ nice one man! I salute you. Ba sakala & village chicken koma ndimwe FIKALA. RB is no more & this christmas muzadya vamuma bin.he he he he!
It’s true mr sakala u must be a beneficiary of the previous government. Honestly do u want the church to be critcisiing the goverment unnecesacerily? Yakunyokola Nijla
Sakala is right, wen there was no fuel sata use to go to the filing station with a container, wen the mealie meal price was up the church mother body use to critcise,now that most of them r heads of boards and govt dept they r mute. Sata is not stinge with taxpayers money to the church mother body that is the reason that wen a joint meeting 4 the opposition is stopped in mtendere the church is mute,the 90 days 4 the constitution which was promised is not talked about we hope we zambians wil have it by 2017. Church wake up 4 the masses us always.
Please pipo even if u are the oppo tell the truth and not these kind of lies ,Sakala. full of exergerations. Edwin are u the only Zambian ?Becoz u are opo u are now suffering? Have we forgotten the evil mmd did ?Hypocrity.Leave them alone u lier!
What kind of minds or consciences do pipo like Sakala ,@mathew and oders opposed 2 pf have? @ mathew u are a lier! What made the Mutendere rally not to takplace? Yo leader chose not to pen down o de details on the notice. Who was wrong? Plastic !
christianity is the most indisciplined religion on earth,xtians drink and eat anything,jews r even beta,atleast they eat kosha only.cleanse yo lifestyles before u blame ‘mother bodies’ coz u r all the same.u say this but do that!