Mazombwe calls for peaceful 2011 polls

Mazombwe calls for peaceful 2011 polls
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 26 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT

CARDINAL Merdado Mazombwe yesterday called for peace and unity ahead of next year’s elections. And there was pomp and splendor at Lusaka International Airport as Catholics sang and praised God and Pope Benedict XVI for anointing Mazombwe, the first Zambian Cardinal.

Speaking to journalists on arrival from Italy where Pope Benedict conferred the Cardinalate and a red hat on him and 23 other bishops during a public consistory at St Peter ‘s Square in Rome last Saturday, Cardinal Mazombwe said Zambians would elect a person who would take the country forward.

“God must guide us; we pray that at the time of elections we remain peaceful people and people who have the interest of this country at heart; we want the country to develop and its inhabitants to be united,” he said.

“We thank his Excellency President Rupiah Banda and all members of Cabinet, parliamentary members and people who are working together in order that this country should continue to experience unity and peace.”

Cardinal Mazombwe thanked Pope Benedict for recognising the growth of the Catholic Church in Zambia through his appointment.

“We are sharing the experience of very special nature. With the presence of the Nuncio here, I feel the Holy Father is with us. He has honoured us,” he said.

Cardinal Mazombwe said Cardinals were like the hinge on which the door of the church turned and he thanked God that Zambia had been invited to preach the gospel beyond borders.

Cardinal Mazombwe said the Catholic Church should grow to reach a certain level of maturity in development.

He said he would not advocate an African Pope because God guided the church and when the time came to pick a pope, whoever God would anoint would be supported to be head of the Catholic Church. Among the people who welcomed Cardinal Mazombwe were Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who was in transit, Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli, FDD president Edith Nawakwi, Lusaka archdiocese Arch-bishop Telesphore Mpundu, works and supply deputy minister Lameck Mangani, Ministry of Community Development permanent secretary Sherry Thole, Zambia Episcopal Confer-ence spokesperson Fr Paul Samasumo and Catholic Church leaders.

After hugging Cardinal Mazombwe, Dr Kaunda asked him to continue praying and guiding the country.
ZEC president Bishop George Lungu and Kasama Diocese former archbishop James Spaita among several other Catholics accompanied Cardinal Mazombwe to Italy.

Nawakwi said Mazom-bwe’s appointment was a blessing to Zambia.

Miriam Mumba, a Catholic from Pope Square, who was in Cardinal Mazombwe’s entourage to Italy, said she felt good that Pope Benedict recognised Zambia.

Bishop Lungu said: “It was a moving session when we saw our Cardinal approaching the altar to receive the red biretta; there was ululation in the basilica and the Zambian flag was flying; it was an emotional time. It was wonderful to be there.”

Lusaka’s Chainda Cath-olic Church member Thelma Kangwa said: “I am very happy that our former bishop was appointed Cardinal.”