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Bishop Duffy slams govt's position on constitution

Bishop Duffy slams govt's position on constitution
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mongu
Monday September 03, 2007 [05:00]

And Bishop Duffy has said it would be very difficult to deepen the people's faith without leaders of integrity. In an interview, Bishop Duffy said the current situation explains the government's reluctance to accommodate contrary views in the on-going formulation of the new constitution. "It seems that the government has cemented itself in its own roadmap for the constitution and therefore it seems like they cannot hear what is being said as the way forward," Bishop Duffy said.

He said contrary to recent statements by information minister Mike Mulongoti that the pastoral letters which Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has published in line with the constitution issue were not a product of wider consultations with church members, the letters were highly appreciated.

Featuring on a National Watch programme on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) TV recently, Mulongoti said the Bishop's pastoral letters were published without consulting the members of the church and that some Catholics who were in MMD always wondered as to how the letters are compiled.
Mulongoti fell short of describing the members of ZEC as dictators a few months since they met at State House to discuss matters of dialogue.

Bishop Duffy said he found it ridiculous that a leader of the government could discredit the efficacy of the pastoral letters in such a manner.

"That is the work of the Episcopal conference because we have representation right at the grassroot and we are aware of the real situation on the ground," he said. "That is why we get surprised when we hear outrageous statements being made."
He said even non-Catholics had come forward to congratulate ZEC for speaking out on salient national issues like the constitution.

Bishop Duffy also said there was increasing public discontent pertaining to the calibre of some members of parliament.

"Members of parliament are usually not so interested in serving the people in their constituencies. They seem to be taken up with themselves and their own individual interests," he said.

Bishop Duffy said this was the justification behind the Church's continued involvement in educating people not to vote for a party but for leaders who would put their interests before that of the electorate.
"People have to be instructed that they need to vote for individuals of integrity and not to vote for parties," he advised.

Asked if he had graded the delivery capacity of parliamentarians from the province since they assumed their roles last year, Bishop Duffy said he was still looking forward to seeing what specific members of parliament would deliver to the people.
"We are still looking for some type of indication that they are delivering something for the people," he said.

And Bishop Duffy said the fight against corruption could only be won through having leaders of integrity.

"I hope that faith will deepen among our people and that they will live a true Christian life to the fullest," he said. "This means something for the fight against corruption that is taking place in the country. We need good leaders who are strong Christians, not just by name but also by action."

Meanwhile, Bishop Duffy has urged the church in Mongu Diocese to be people of hope and integrity as it clocks a decade of existence, as the youngest Diocese in the country.

He said the church had tried to initiate various interventions to address the poverty situation in the province and he was impressed to note that levels of self-sustenance had deepened.

"We can no longer afford to be dependants. We need to become independent," said Bishop Duffy.

Bishop Duffy also complained over the illusion that President Mwanawasa had created on the state of the Mongu-Lusaka road.

"People have this illusion that we now have a good road from Mongu to Lusaka because the President launched it in Mumbwa," he said. "From the Game Park to Mongu, the road is horrendous. I would have loved that the President flew from Lusaka to Kaoma and then drive to Mongu to see the real state of the road."

He further said the government's protracted silence on the Mongu-Kalabo and Mongu-Senanga roads was another source of concern. Mongu Diocese was created from Livingstone Diocese in 1997 with Bishop Duffy as its first pastor.

Labels: BISHOP DUFFY, CATHOLIC CHURCH, CONSTITUTION, MONGU

posted by MrK @ 4:10 PM