If speaking for the poor is political then so be it, declares Rev Matale

If speaking for the poor is political then so be it, declares Rev Matale
Written by Nicholas Mwale
Sunday, November 30, 2008 3:37:42 PM

COUNCIL of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Reverend Suzanne Matale has said it is unfortunate that the Church is always mistaken to be political when it comments on pressing issues in society.

And Rev Matale has said poverty is the biggest challenge the Church has been facing in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In an interview last Friday, Rev Matale observed that there was a problem of a "one- sided political dispensation" in Zambia.

"This is a situation where people just listen to politicians and have no say to what they want," Rev Matale said. "People should hold politicians accountable for their promises."

She said the Church should not be mistaken to be political when speaking for the poor who were the majority in the country.

"We don't just preach on the pulpit. Our preaching goes with action because we are bearers of social services to people," Rev Matale said. "The Church is on the ground and knows pressing issues in society. We always speak realities.

"For example, the majority of people in this country are poor. But when the Church speaks out, it is accused of being political. If speaking for the poor is political, then so be it. We are political."

She said people should not be complacent even in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) but that they should tell the government how they wanted to be governed.

"This is why as a Church we are saying the constitution-making process, the NCC should not to be dominated by politicians and academicians but ordinary people because they are the majority and know what they want," Rev Matale said. "We can't afford to have the constitution that is so academic."

And Rev Matale said poverty was the major problem the Church faced in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"Zambia has about 80 per cent poverty levels and this has been the major challenge for the Church in the fight against AIDS," she said

However, Rev Matale hoped that the Church would succeed in the fight against HIV/AIDS due to its active participation.

"At first churches were slow to respond to AIDS issues but in the last 10 to 15 years, they have been on the ground," Rev Matale said. "There are so many programmes the Church has put in place and they are having a positive impact. As a Church, we have hope and can see light at the end of the tunnel in this.

"As CCZ, we have various AIDS programmes and have a department and also Churches Health Association of Zambia that is specifically looking at health issues.

"We have what is called the interfaith and we are working well with NAC [National Aids Council] as well as other known support groups."

Rev Matale said the Church would always encourage and give hope to people living with HIV/AIDS as opposed to condemning them.

"We need to have in mind as churches that AIDS not only comes as a result of promiscuity. It does not only affect those that are promiscuous. The fact that it affects even children who are very innocent means that there is need for our support,” Rev Matale said. "Even the Church has HIV/AIDS so it must deal with it. Our role as the Church is to be compassionate and embrace everyone."

Rev Matale further said the Church has had a good relationship with the government in partnering in the fight against HIV/AIDS.