Maravi

Mpundu laughs at Levy's threats

Mpundu laughs at Levy's threats
By Brighton Phiri
Tuesday October 16, 2007 [04:00]

LUSAKA Diocese Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu yesterday laughed at President Mwanawasa's threats that all those fighting the government over the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) will be arrested for treason. Commenting on President Mwanawasa's threats that anyone daring government over the NCC was committing treason, Archbishop Mpundu said President Mwanawasa's statement at the Lusaka International Airport was not well thought out.

"Tell the nation that Bishop Mpundu laughed at President Mwanawasa's statement. A constitutional issue is the business for everyone," Archbishop Mpundu said.

"We have not seen any law which states that whoever discusses the Constitution is committing a crime. For me I simply laugh at such statements, because for me I feel that statement was not well thought out."

Archbishop Mpundu reminded the government that the Catholic Church had been engaged in governance issues even under both the UNIP and former president Frederick Chiluba's regimes.

"Even under Dr Kaunda and Chiluba, we have been talking about changing the Constitution to meet the aspiration of the people," Archbishop Mpundu said. "We have the right to talk about it because it is not only the privilege of the politicians, government and NGOs."

He said the Church would not succumb to President Mwanawasa's threats until the government began changes to the NCC Act in order to make planned conference and useful for all the stakeholders.

"We have been telling government to change a lot of things. Dialogue is a two-way affair. If government is asking us to reconsider our position, they must also change things that are raising a lot of concerns," Archbishop Mpundu said. "Otherwise, we shall not accept the route being suggested by government. We are saying no to it."

Speaking earlier during Lwitikila Girls School "Imiti Ikula Empanga" photo exhibition at Lusaka's Manda Hill Shopping Centre, Archbishop Mpundu advised the youth to look up to the leaders such as Dr Kaunda for advice and guidance. He said it was important for the young generation to take keen interest in preserving the country's heritage.

Archbishop Mpundu said preservation of the country's rich land required serious and selfless stewardship.

"It is unfortunate that politics of poverty show that only a few children have access to quality education," he said. "All our children must have access to quality education if we are to be seen to be respecting human dignity. We cannot speak about human rights without respecting human dignity."

Archbishop Mpundu explained that the Catholic Church would not readmit in its schools pupils who got pregnant because it was against the Church's values.

"We want to teach our pupils that the gift of sex comes from God and that it comes with responsibilities. If we play with our life, we bring problems on ourselves," he said. "We have values to protect and one of its is no sex before marriage."

Dr Kaunda commended the Catholic Church for instilling a high degree of self-reliance and discipline among the children at their schools.

"The Catholic Church like many other churches have for a long time been involved in social advancement of society, particularly in providing health and educational facilities to the most disadvantaged in society," he said.

"Lwitikila Girls has continued to be a shining example for providing leadership skills among the students, many of whom are today serving in responsible positions in different organisations both in the public and private sectors. This is truly in keeping with the school's motto: Enter to learn: Pass to serve."

Dr Kaunda urged the National Museum to encourage youths to take keen interest in the work of museums for them to appreciate the richness of history. He asked the youth to honour fallen African freedom fighters by recording correctly the role they played during the liberation struggle of the continent.

"This is not too much to ask of the current generation and our museums and the national archives have a critical role to play on this matter," he said.

Dr Kaunda further asked the youth to aspire to serve their fellow human beings.
Lwitkila Secondary School head teacher Sister Sylvia Kagurula asked former Lwitikila pupils to act as role models for the young girls who were at the school.

She commended the National Museum for associating itself with Lwitikila Girl's School museum.

"There is a lot we need to preserve for the good of our children tomorrow," Sr. Kagurula said.

Lusaka Museum director George Mudenda explained that the exhibition was aimed at contributing to the debate on the re-entry policy of girl-mothers as regards Catholic schools, contribute to the debate on sex before and outside marriage and commencing a children's publication on heroes and heroines of Zambia's history.

Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, NCC, TELESPHORE MPUNDU

posted by MrK @ 5:21 AM