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Leaders are busy stealing before 2011 polls - Fr Chilufya

Leaders are busy stealing before 2011 polls - Fr Chilufya
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 4:34:45 PM

ELECTED leaders are busy stealing public funds before election time in 2011, St Peter's Catholic Church parish priest Fr Francis Chilufya has charged.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Province permanent secretary Stephen Bwalya on Sunday left St Peter's Parish without attending a church service after he heard that opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata would attend the same service.

In a sermon last Sunday in Lusaka's Garden compound, Fr Chilufya expressed concern over the abuse of public resources by elected leaders in Zambia.

He said leaders and ordinary people alike should sacrifice themselves to contribute to the country's development.

"But people in leadership in our country don't want to suffer for mother Zambia. They suffer for themselves; they are there. Once they are elected they are busy stealing before its 2011 election. We have no men and women of acumen who can stand up for you and for me," Fr Chilufya said.

"The Chief Justice does not even look at the poor people; he is busy adjudicating cases of corruption. [Ba Chief Justice balelolekeshafye pali balyabene abalefokotola]."

He urged congregants to be honest and patriotic in their lives.

"If we are to develop this country, all of us as Zambians, we must die a little for mother Zambia. We have to die a little for our small communities," Fr Chilufya said.

"Are you prepared to die a little for mother Zambia? You have to work hard to develop our country. Without suffering, you can't get anything good and precious. No sweat, no sweet!"

He said mothers have to endure for them to give birth to a child.

"Despite that pain, mothers don't stop giving birth. We have Mr Sata today because one woman had to endure pain. No pain, no Sata!" Fr Chilufya said.

Fr Chilufya said Jesus Christ had to endure mistreatment, pain and humiliation for the sake of the people.

"A real man doesn't fear suffering. Jesus had to suffer for us. He was humiliated for our sake," Fr Chilufya said.

"God is going to make a covenant with His people and those with a covenant with God must not fear sufferings. Don't be afraid. Mr Sata, don't fear even one thing because Jesus is control. Those who don't believe in God will not scare us."

Fr Chilufya further observed that Zambia was underdeveloped because Zambians were lazy.

"Do you know why Zambia is so underdeveloped? It's because of us. We don't want to work. We are too lazy," Fr Chilufya said. "Unfortunately even educated people are lazy. Those with degrees spend most of their time reading newspapers and talking to girlfriends on phone. At the month end they say, 'I want my pay.' After one year they say, 'I want promotion.' That is wrong."

Meanwhile, when word went round that Sata would attend the service at St Peter's Parish in Garden, several people gathered outside the church waiting to catch a glimpse of the opposition leader.

Bwalya, who usually congregates at St Peter's came early for the service, but when he heard that Sata would be there, he hurriedly drove out of the church premises.

Bwalya, who was driving a government Toyota Prado, sped off and did not attend the church service.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ELECTIONS, FRANCIS CHILUFYA

posted by MrK @ 3:35 PM