Don't miss opportunity to make good constitution, Mchombo urges government
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 10 June 2012, 12:58 CAT
BISHOP William Mchombo says the PF government should not miss the opportunity to make a good constitution for the country.
Commenting on the current constitution-making process, Bishop Mchombo, the head of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia, said it would be most appreciated for once if the leaders looked at constitution making from a Zambian point of view without any political attachments.
"We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to come up with a people's constitution. It is therefore imperative that measures should be put in place that will ensure that the end product is truly what the people of Zambia want. The PF government should not allow the opportunity it has to pass by," Bishop Mchombo said.
He said people who espouse obnoxious laws "are caught in the web that they spin for others and they cry the loudest once outside the comfortable corridors of power and influence".
Bishop Mchombo said it was good that most of the submissions from the previous constitution review commissions had been included in the current draft which he said needed to be fine-tuned.
"It should, however, be pointed out that as a nation we have come this far on several occasions only to be disappointed by past sitting governments' desire to cling to power at all costs thereby rendering the whole constitution making process an exercise in futility.
Sometimes certain clauses in the constitution-making process have been inserted to deal with targeted individuals. For instance the parents' clause and the theft of motor vehicle clause," Bishop Mchombo said.
He said there was need for the country to come up with a constitution that would reflect people's desire on how they want to be governed.
"One would have thought our leaders in government would have learnt lessons from past mishaps. But it appears to be a far-fetched call.
Already, certain clauses like the election of the running mate for Presidency are being shot down. What guarantee, in the absence of a tangible roadmap and legal process, is there for the realisation of an end product that will reflect the people's desire on how they want to be governed?" Bishop Mchombo asked.
He said history in constitution making showed that it was not the ruling class that carries out the work, but the governed in order to provide for equitable distribution of wealth, safeguard privileges of the governed and to curb any excesses by the leaders.
"One only has to refer to the origins of the Magna Carta which was later described by Lord Denning as 'the greatest constitutional document of all times - the foundation of the freedom of the individual against arbitrary authority of the despot' to appreciate the input of all stakeholders," said Bishop Mchombo.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, CONSTITUTION
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Duffy was champion for the poor
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thu 01 Sep. 2011, 11:59 CAT
ANGLICAN Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo says late former Mongu Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy shall be remembered as a champion for the cause of the poor in society. Bishop Mchombo, who is currently out of the country, said Bishop Duffy strived to speak the truth at all times.
"I am very sorry about his passing on. Bishop Duffy shall be remembered as a champion for the cause of the poor in society. He gave of himself in sacrificial love for the wellbeing of the people, he pastored in particular and for all the people in general. True to his calling as a shepherd of the people he strived to speak the truth at all times," Bishop Mchombo said.
"As it is commonly said that the truth hurts, Bishop Duffy believed in his God as his refuge and protector against people who desired to vilify him or harm him for speaking the truth. The Church has lost one of its great advocates of social justice."
He said Bishop Duffy's death was a challenge to all clergy to learn to speak the truth no matter the conditions.
"It is a matter of fact that the Church cannot choose conditions in which to work, but that those conditions are given by God, hence the need to remain steadfast at all times. It is also important that those of our people who aspire for positions of leadership at various levels of our society in the coming tripartite elections should put truth and honesty on their campaign agendas. And our people should hold them against that. Our prayers are with the Church's faithful as we commend the spirit of Bishop Duffy to its eternal rest in the hope of rising again in glory," said Bishop Mchombo.
Labels: BISHOP DUFFY, BISHOP MCHOMBO, CATHOLIC CHURCH, PAUL DUFFY, POVERTY, WILLIAM MCHOMBO
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Mchombo urges government to treat media as partners
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 28 June 2011, 08:40 CAT
THE head of the Anglican diocese in eastern Zambia says a well-informed citizenry will positively participate in the wellbeing of the nation.
In his congratulatory message to the Catholic-run Radio Maria Zambia, which clocked 12 years on June 21, 2011, Bishop William Mchombo said over the years Radio Maria had extended its coverage and introduced a number of programmes, which many listeners could relate to.
He said Radio Maria had provided a platform for many people who ordinarily would not have their voices heard on a number of issues that affected them in their daily lives.
Bishop Mchombo said the radio station runs educational, agricultural and other developmental programmes.
“We therefore implore government to recognise the work of Radio Maria including other private media as partners in development and enhance their growth and expansion. A well-informed nation would positively participate in the wellbeing of its nation,” he said.
Bishop Mchombo said he took cognisance of the fact that Radio Maria was the pioneer radio station in the province among the community and private radio stations and noted its steady growth with a lot of joy.
“We would like to convey our heartfelt congratulations to Radio Maria Zambia for clocking 12 years of spreading the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and the dissemination of information in general to the people of Eastern Province over the airwaves,” Bishop Mchombo said.
Radio Maria, the first radio station to be opened in Eastern Province, started broadcasting on June 21, 1999.
Programmes director Fr Gabriel Kwaku Mwanza said the station would remain focused in its programmes.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, MEDIA
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Anglicans urge Rupiah not to remove abuse of office
By Ernest Chanda and Collins Phiri
Mon 01 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT
ANGLICAN Bishops have urged President Rupiah Banda not to assent to the Anti Corruption bill that seeks to remove the abuse of office offence from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act.
Delivering a speech at the centenary service of the Anglican Church in Zambia which was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday, Anglican Diocese of eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo said removing the offence could compromise the fight against corruption.
Bishop Mchombo’s statement on the ACC Act seemingly incenced government officials in attendance with Vice-President George Kunda visibly annoyed.
And former president Frederick Chiluba made gestures of disapproval as Bishop Mchombo was delivering his speech.
Chiluba constantly looked up and sideways while twisting his mouth.
And President Banda’s special assistant for press Dickson Jere, who appeared somehow disappointed, complained to Vice-President Kunda that the message Bishop Mchombo delivered was not in the earlier prepared speech.
Bishop Mchombo said the government should not relent in the fight against corruption.
“The fight against corruption should not be compromised and neither should we relent. It is in this light that we are concerned with the removal of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act. We do not in any way imply that public officers cannot engage in income generating activities to supplement on their salaries; far from it,” Bishop Mchombo said.
“Certainly there are guidelines that allow for such to happen as long as one does not have illicit access to public resources or pecuniary advantage on account of his or her public office. These excesses are well documented year in and year out in the Auditor General’s reports. That is why, Your Excellency, we implore you not to consent to the removal of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act 42 of 1996.”
As the Bishop spoke more about reinstating the abuse of office offence clause, the congregation applauded him, with some shouting “ya, ya!”
Bishop Mchombo said the Anglican Church would always speak against abuse of power by those in authority.
He further appealed to the government to enact laws that protect people from abuse by investors.
“The Anglican Church is being true to our Christian heritage by standing where our Lord stood, a ‘voice for the voiceless’. Our Lord didn’t try to change the power structures of his time by becoming, with his followers, part of the powers that be. Instead he created a new spirit-filled community living by, and willing to die for, totally different gospel values,” said Bishop Mchombo. “We will always speak out against the misuse of power that impoverishes the poor people and harms the common good. For instance, admitting to a problem is the first step toward finding a solution. Confessing a sin is the beginning of redemption. It is gratifying therefore to note that some of our leaders do acknowledge that all is not well insofar as the conditions under which some of our people work are concerned.”
And giving a vote of thanks, Dean of the Anglican Province of Central Africa Bishop Albert Chanda said the Church was not against the government whenever it spoke on issues affecting society.
Bishop Chanda called on President Banda to reflect on the ACC bill and restore the offence of abuse of office.
“Your Excellency, we appeal to your conscience to re-look at the Anti Corruption bill and review it. The view of our Church is that the enactment in the ACC Act should be critically reviewed. The concept of good governance should be characterised by transparency and is applicable to all sections of society,” said Bishop Chanda. “And we are hoping as a church that the bill has not been presented for assent.
We pray that according to your powers vested in the law you uphold zero tolerance to corruption by restoring the abuse of office clause. Your Excellency, when we speak as a church we are not being against government. We speak for the people just as God commanded us.”
In response, President Banda, who was guest of honour, abandoned his speech and spoke off-the-cuff, calling for admission whenever people were wrong.
He said politicians created problems while the Church sorted them out.
“If you want to be forgiven, you must accept that you have sinned. We are not holy; we make a lot of mistakes because we are human. And where we are wrong, we have admitted and said sorry, for the people to help us,” said President Banda. “We will always have challenges; there is no human society without challenges. We the politicians are there to ensure that we read the mood of the people; and you have told us to ensure that peace prevails.”
The function was also attended by first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, his successor Chiluba and wife Regina, and Vice-President Kunda and his wife Irene.
Others were Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata and Kabwata parliamentarian Given Lubinda as well as several opposition parliamentarians and ministers.Labels: ACC, BISHOP MCHOMBO
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Abuse of office will breed anarchy - Bishop Mchombo
By Mutale Kapekele and Agnes Changala
Thu 28 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda must not assent to the ACC Act because it will breed anarchy in the country, Zambia Anglican Council (ZAC) presiding Bishop William Mchombo has advised.
Addressing journalists on the centenary celebration of the Anglican Church’s existence in Zambia at Lusaka’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday, Bishop Mchombo said it was unfortunate that Parliament decided to remove the abuse of office clause from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act.
“It is unfortunate that the clause on the abuse of office should be removed. I would like to appeal to the President not to sign the Bill,” Bishop Mchombo said. “A bad law does not offer justice to the nation. He President Banda would save this nation from a bad law that does not serve the nation. In the absence of section 37 clause of the current ACC Act plundering of resources will be free for all.
That law is there to protect our resources which will not be possible in the absence of this law and that will be detrimental to the fight against poverty.”
He said only those with access to higher offices would get rich while the poor would continue wallowing in poverty.
“We need to strengthen laws that protect our resources and everybody should respect that otherwise we shall create anarchy,” he said.
Bishop Mchombo said poverty was the biggest challenge that the country was facing and it could increase in a situation where national resources were plundered.
“It poverty dehumanizes the human being, de-empowers if one has no means of survival,” he said. “The gospel challenges us to be good neighbors, our brothers’ keepers. That could happen if we were less selfish. Poverty increases because of greed. 80 per cent of food produced globally goes to 20 per cent of the world’s population. We the church shall continue standing in for advocacy to make sure that everybody has food on the table and to make sure that sharing of resources is equitable so that we all have something sufficient.”
And Bishop Mchombo said violence during elections should be discouraged because it promoted voter apathy.
“In Chilanga by-elections, there was violence and the elections were marred with apathy, so in that case you may even question the legitimacy of the one elected as member of Parliament,” Bishop Mchombo said.
He said the Anglican Church was against all forms of violence.
Bishop Mchombo said violence should not be allowed to take centre stage whenever elections were held or where there were political gatherings.
He appealed to political players to “tame” their cadres and ensure peaceful elections and campaigns are held.
“As Zambia, we stand on a beacon of peace and we need to act and not just talk if we are to end the violence,” Bishop Mchombo said.
He also asked politicians to refrain from using provocative statements, saying they contributed to violence.
Bishop Mchombo observed that poverty and high unemployment levels caused several youths to involve themselves in violent activities.
He said people should be careful and avoid unnecessary violence because children and the women were the ones who suffered most in such situations.
Bishop Mchombo said the Anglican Church would continue to take part in politics but in a non-partisan way.
He said it was the duty of every Zambian to take part in politics because it touched on issues of governance and social issues.
“As Anglican Church, we will continue to participate in politics, we will not shun because that is our mandate to participate in governance and other social issues,” said Bishop Mchombo.
Next Sunday, the Anglican Church will host senior members of their sister churches from America, Europe and some African countries.
Labels: ACC, BISHOP MCHOMBO, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Mchombo, chief Chikanta hail Levy’s corruption fight
By Christopher Miti in Chipata and George Zulu in Monze
Mon 23 Aug. 2010, 14:00 CAT
ANGLICAN Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo has observed that selfishness, greed and neglect of justice will not develop the nation.
And chief Chikanta of the Tonga people of Kalomo said political leaders in the country should strive to build on the principles late president Levy Mwanawasa stood for to uphold the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
Reflecting on the life of Mwanawasa two years after his demise, Bishop Mchombo said Mwanawasa exhibited a strong dislike for corrupt activities and he wanted to promote the rule of law at the risk of losing popularity and friends.
“As we pray for the Mwanawasa family for comfort and for peace in our nation, it is incumbent upon each one of us, especially those we have entrusted with the governance of our great nation, to put the good of the nation before self. Selfishness and greed and neglect of justice will not develop this nation,” Bishop Mchombo said.
He said Mwanawasa was well versed in matters of law and he did not want to compromise.
“While it is generally accepted that he was not perfect, just as all of us have our own imperfections, we are however all agreed that the late president Mwanawasa provided strong leadership in the crusade against corruption and its offshoot of abuse of office,” said Bishop Mchombo.
“In commemorating president Mwanawasa's second year after his death, the nation should strive to strengthen institutions and statutes that protect the weak in our society against the devastating effects of corruption of any kind.
Democratic institutions that promote good governance should be protected unlike the situation where the powerful seem to have their way. The wheels of justice should be allowed to run their full course on any case to avoid unhealthy speculations in the nation.”
And in an interview last Thursday, chief Chikanta said Mwanawasa would always be a hero not only to Zambia but world over because of the strong foundation he laid for economic development and the fight against corruption.
“We are today Thursday commemorating the second anniversary of the death of our beloved late president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa who died two years ago. There is a lot we should learn especially those in authority our political leaders,” chief Chikanta said.
“They must look at how Mwanawasa managed to uphold the rule of law, how he detested corruption and corrupt elements and how he fought hard to ensure that economic developments were achieved today, it was because of the strong foundation he laid.”
He appealed to political leaders to ensure that the rule of law was upheld by allowing the judiciary to function independently and address critical issues raised in the country’s democratic governance.
“You see, Mwanawasa was a gallant fighter of corruption. He was the kind of person who had few words for corruption and corrupt elements and hated corruption, no wonder that man’s legacy is still talked about today by so many people,” said chief Chikanta.
“Even those who criticised him and did not agree with him today are talking about him. This is a challenge to those in power because they need to look at the issues people are talking about and why they are talking, but if they want to be stubborn by failing to listen to the outcry of the people, then they should expect difficult times in governance.”
And chief Hanjalika of Mazabuka hailed Mwanawasa and his efforts to improve the people’s food basket.
Chief Hanjalika said Mwanawasa should be remembered for supporting small-scale farmers in rural areas and improving the marketing system of inputs.
Mwanawasa died on August 19, 2008 in Paris, France after suffering a stroke during an African Union (AU) summit in Egypt.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, CHIEF CHIKANTA, LEVY MWANAWASA
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Christians without Christian deeds
By Editor
Thu 08 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
“WE are all called to humble service, especially those of us in leadership. We are further challenged to do away with corrupt activities as well as abuse of power. A life of compromise for political expedience or for purely selfish motives is not a Jesus’ way. The power of the resurrection leads us to renewal and gives us the desire of wishing each other peace. It challenges us to be concerned with any dehumanising conditions such as poverty in the face of abundant wealth in form of natural resources in the country… After all, some of our leaders profess an affinity to Christianity and we have since declared ourselves as a Christian nation.” This is the challenge to all of us, especially those in leadership, from Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo.
We should ask ourselves what kind of society we are building in this country that we have declared to be a Christian nation. We should ask ourselves this question because the name Christian means: like Christ, follower of Christ.
Now, Jesus was humble, most pure, poor, meek: how can his disciple and imitator be arrogant, pompous, proud, dishonest, angry, intolerant, merciless and greedy? At the risk of sounding monotonous or excessively repetitive, we refer back to Alexander the Great who once said to a soldier who also had the same name but was sluggish, mean and cowardly: “Either change your name or change your behaviour.”
Here is the thought that converted a great knight who was rather worldly: Jesus Christ is crucified, and I want to satisfy myself; Jesus Christ is very poor, and I am ambitious for riches and gluttony; Jesus Christ is on the Cross, and I am lying on a feather bed. Ah! I do not deserve the name of Christian! I want to change my life; I want to follow the Divine Master.
How many Christians are there in this country that has declared itself a Christian nation who have no more than the name and the baptism of Jesus Christ, while they live like pagans and the country they have declared a Christian nation is governed like Sodom and Gomorrah!
He who does not imitate Christ does not love Christ: love is imitation. The persons who really love Jesus are those who follow him to Calvary, in his private life of obedience, in his humility. Imitation is the infallible character to distinguish the loves of Jesus.
In front of eternity, here is the need for imitation: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). On the day of Judgement, Jesus Christ will search in us for his moral image, for his spiritual physiognomy, he would say, for almost the resemblance of his heart.
Only he who resembles Jesus will be admitted into the Kingdom of God; all the children will have to resemble the firstborn Son.
And so, there is no middle path: either win or lose. Heaven is the fatherland of the victorious. What have the blessed in heaven done? They have won and triumphed over passions and sin. Jesus Christ is the head of the winners. Hell is the shame of those who are defeated, of the miserable slaves of themselves. It does not matter if there were many distinguished in the army, in arts, in the sciences, in business, in politics. Often we meet people who are strong in many things, but wanting in courage and slaves to a miserable passion.
One of the two eternities awaits us. The character of the soldier of Jesus Christ will be preserved in eternity, to the glory of the valiant soldier, and to the ignominy of the vile soldier who has deserted the battle. These two ranks correspond to the distinction there is in time among Christians: the brave fighters, and the weak and cowardly who let themselves be defeated.
The religious should win completely. The religious state is in fact a stable condition of life in which one tends to a higher perfection, through the exercise of obedience, chastity, perfect poverty in the common life. The work of the religious is primarily this: to tend to perfection. And this becomes his job, his profession, his occupation: work and application which revolve particularly around the three great concupiscences. The religious is the hero of the fight, the specialist of the battles, the one who, to ensure victory, employs greater means, uses chosen weapons, perseveres with obstinate tenacity for a whole life, totally and uniquely consecrated to this end.
Thus, spirituality isn’t the way you feel the presence of God. Nor is it the way you believe. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven.” Thus, spirituality is a way of living life according to the spirit.
Jose Marti, outstanding hero and forerunner of Cuba’s liberation, said that “doing is the best way of saying”. For Christians, living is the best way of believing. It means nothing to declare this country a Christian nation and continue to sloganeer about it whole continue to govern it in the most corrupt, crooked, unfair, unjust, inhuman way. A Christian nation without Christian ways of governing is worthless just as faith without deeds is worthless; as James stated, “What does it profit my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith, by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
Regardless of what we claim to be, of what we declare we are, of what we say we are, our way of life is what reflects what we are, our way of life is the result of what we truly believe. In the name of God, Frederick Chiluba stole from the poor people of this country, blinding them with the declaration of their country as a Christian nation. What type of a Christian is Chiluba who steals from the poor to buy hundreds of thousands of tailor-made shoes, suits, shirts and pyjamas? It seems to be a mistake to think that all those who claim to be believers believe in the same God. We often ask ourselves if there is any similarity between the God the great majority of our people believe in and the one in whom Chiluba believes. We shouldn’t forget that in the Old Testament, the prophets were worried about idolatry, the gods created in accord with human interest. There’s still much idolatry. In the name of God, Chiluba and his friends are still robbing our people of justice and dignity. Could it be that the name spoken by Chiluba and his friends is that of a God of the poor, of the humble, of whom Jesus spoke?
In this sense, all struggle for life are included in God’s scheme, even if they lack faith. “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothed thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’” (Matt 25:37-40).
It is your fellow man, and especially the one who lacks life and needs justice, in whom God wishes to be served and loved. They are the ones with whom Jesus identified. This is the best way to follow Jesus, especially in Zambia’s present situation.
This is what politicians like Chiluba, Ronnie Shikapwasha who try to do politics espousing the name of Christ should always bear in mind. Chiluba should ask himself what is Christian about his crooked schemes and thefts.
Shikapwasha should also ask himself what is Christian about the propaganda, lies and calumny he churns out everyday. To move in the direction of Christ, they have to do away with their corrupt activities and abuse of power.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, CORRUPTION
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Do away with corrupt activities and abuse of power, urges Anglican’s Bishop Mchombo
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thu 08 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ANGLICAN Diocese of eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo has challenged those in leadership to do away with corrupt activities as well as abuse of power.
In an interview, Bishop Mchombo said the resurrection of Jesus Christ challenged all Christians to live the Jesus' way of renewed hope in spite of the many challenges they faced.
“We are all called to humble service, especially those of us in leadership. We are further challenged to do away with corrupt activities as well as abuse of power. A life of compromise for political expedience or for purely selfish motives is not a Jesus' way,” Bishop Mchombo said in his Easter message to the country.
“The power of the resurrection leads us to renewal and gives us a desire of wishing each other peace. It challenges us to be concerned with any dehumanising conditions such as poverty in the face of abundant wealth in form of natural resources in the country. We are challenged to take care of each other.”
He expressed concern over the current politics of name-calling in the country.
“We should implore all our political leaders to desist from the culture of name-calling but instead challenge them to give hope to the nation in their utterances in the spirit of Easter. After all, some of our leaders profess an affinity to Christianity and we have since declared ourselves as a Christian nation," he said.
Bishop Mchombo noted that Jesus faced a lot of temptations in his life.
“At the beginning of the season of Lent, our Lord Jesus Christ faced temptations of corruption to turn stones into bread, compromise to worship the devil and abuse of power by jumping from the pinnacle of the temple. He faced persecution. He was falsely accused. He was angry with the moneychangers who exploited the poor in the precincts of the temple so much that he chased them out. He healed the sick and the crippled thereby empowering them,” said Bishop Mchombo.
“He taught his disciples the essence of true greatness by washing the feet of his disciples; a task of a slave. In the end and in a humble manner he gave of himself to be a living sacrifice for our salvation. The disciples out of fear of the religious leaders locked themselves indoors. And God through the power of the resurrection brought hope out of despair as Jesus stood before his disciples and wished them peace on Easter Sunday.”
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, CORRUPTION
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‘From rugs to riches’ through politics
By Editor
Mon 19 Oct. 2009, 18:22 CAT
There is need for us to pay a lot of attention to the type of political leadership we are trying to construct in this country. If we allow vultures, hyenas and jackals to dominate the political leadership of our country, our nation will not advance in any way. We must choose our leaders wisely and only people who are known for their honesty, ability, dedication and concern for the welfare of all should ascend to leadership positions.
What our people are seeking is genuine democracy in which leaders are servants of the electorate and not its masters. We will only move forward when we have intelligent, honest and humble leaders who see politics as a vocation to serve the people. No one deserves to be a leader unless they love their country more than themselves.
We should all realise that politics is an area of great importance for promoting justice, peace, development and community among all. We regard politics as a vocation, a way of building up society for the common good. Our participation in the political life of our country should be guided by noble values and sentiments and not by vanity and greed.
If our country is to move forward, an honest and hardworking political leadership has to be constructed. We need a leadership that will make responsible use of any money available to government; a leadership that recognises the fact that economic growth depends, in the first place, on social progress. We will also need a leadership that hates corruption, that abhors stealing of public resources.
We say this because stealing public funds in order to enrich oneself will only lead to loss for the whole nation. Economic justice requires that each individual has adequate resources to survive, to develop and thrive, and to give back in service to the community. Politics therefore needs people with high credibility because the government the political leaders run is the instrument by which people co-operate together in order to achieve the common good.
An authority is definitely needed to guide the energies of all towards the common good. There is need for a conversion of heart and for the transformation of the social structures in order to build our country. Government is expected to manage the resources of the country for the benefit of all and not only for the political leadership and its associates. We are told in Mark 10:14: “Whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” Political leadership is about service to the community, to the nation. It should not be about self aggrandisement.
And that’s why it is said that the two most decisive factors affecting the future consolidation and expansion of democracy will be economic development and political leadership. This is so because economic development makes democracy possible; political leadership makes it real.
The observations made by Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia bishop William Mchombo deserve serious attention from all of us. Bishop Mchombo observes that “politics instead of being a tool to serve others has been reduced to a level where it is seen as a quick step from rugs to riches. Some people even go to the extent of peddling lies and using vulgar language or purely tribal remarks in order to win votes for political office”.
It is true that most of our people are seeking political leadership positions as a stepping stone to government resources, to enriching themselves. There are many people who were really struggling financially and otherwise but as soon as they got into government or political leadership, there was an immediate reversal of fortunes. And this runs from top to bottom.
Just look at Rupiah Banda’s personal circumstances before and after becoming president and that of his sons and other associates. Their world has suddenly picked up. How? It cannot be explained in any way other than that they are using political office to enrich themselves. Rupiah is not the only one in that position. A good look at his ministers will reveal a similar pattern. And it is this factor that is even messing up our politics, our elections. Elections in this country are no longer generally seen as a competition to serve. They are increasingly becoming a competition for financial survival.
Those who are in political leadership positions should be modest and prudent, guard against arrogance and rashness, and serve the Zambian people heart and soul. They should serve the people whole-heartedly and never for a moment divorce themselves from the masses. And they should proceed in all cases from the interests of the people and not from one’s self-interest or from the interest of a small group. The organs of the state must rely on the masses and their personnel must serve the people.
For all his mistakes and weaknesses, there is a lot the political leadership of this country can learn and emulate from Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s leadership. KK’s spirit, his utter devotion to others without any thought of self, is something our political leadership should try to emulate. KK’s selflessness was shown in his boundless sense of responsibility in his work. Every political leader in this country must learn from him. We must all learn the spirit of absolute selflessness from him. With this spirit, everyone can be very useful to the people. A person’s ability may be great or small, but if he has this spirit, he or she is already noble-minded, a person of moral integrity and above vulgar interests, a person who is of value to the people.
And all our political leaders, whatever their rank, are servants of the people, and whatever they do should be to serve the people. How then can they be reluctant to discard any of their bad traits?
Their duty should be to hold themselves responsible to the people. Every word, every act and every policy must conform to the people’s interest, and if mistakes occur, they must be corrected – that is what being responsible to the people means.
There is a big struggle to get our people out of poverty, ignorance, backwardness and disease. This is not a small struggle; it is a very big and complex one. And wherever there is struggle there has to be sacrifice. And our political leaders should have the interests of the people and the sufferings of the great majority at heart, and every sacrifice made on this score is worth it.
A serious and honest political leader should have largeness of mind and should be staunch and active, looking upon the interests of the people as his very own life and subordinating his or her personal interests to those of the people. Such a political leader should be more concerned about the masses than about any individual, and more concerned about others than about himself or herself. Only thus can he or she be considered a true political leader.
Every political leader in our country must be brought to understand that the supreme test of the words and deeds of a leader is whether they conform with the highest interests and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the people.
At no time and in no circumstances should a political leader place his or her personal interests first; he or she should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, corruption, greed, vanity, and so on and so forth, are most contemptible, while selflessness, modesty, humility, working with all one’s energy, whole-hearted devotion to public duty will command respect.
Political leaders must be ready at all times to stand up for the truth, because truth is in the interests of the people; political leaders must be ready at all times to correct their mistakes, because mistakes are against the interests of the people. Our political leaders should set an example in being practical as well as far-sighted. For only by being practical can they fulfill the appointed tasks, and only far-sightedness can prevent them from losing their bearings in the march forward. Progressive political leaders should be the most far-sighted, the most self-sacrificing, the most resolute, and the least prejudiced in sizing up to situations, and should rely on the majority of the masses and win their support.
It is pleasing that increasingly, our religious leaders are taking a keen interest in the manner our country is being governed and in the type of political leadership we are constructing. This is as it should be. We need religious leaders to continue to be the conscience of society, the moral custodians and fearless champions of the interests of the masses of our people, especially those who are weak and downtrodden.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO, FUEL, GOVERNANCE
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Anglican clergy urges govt to adopt pro-poor policies
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sunday, January 04, 2009 6:59:58 PM
ANGLICAN Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo has urged the government to come up with pro-poor policies that can help reduce poverty levels in the country. In his end of year message, Bishop Mchombo said the government should put in place measures that would help raise living standards of the people.
“The year 2008 was a very critical year, I think poverty levels for our people have been very grinding and if you go round the villages, you can see that there should be a deliberate policy to help people especially in rural areas to come out of poverty,” Bishop Mchombo said.
He said poverty reduction could easily be done by promoting the agricultural sector in the country.
“We know that copper is a wasting asset and most of our industries again depend on copper so whatever happens to the copper industry, everybody else is affected, so the best way I think is to go into agro industry. The agro industry can uplift the living standards of our people, there are a quite a lot of our people such as peasant farmers, these are the people who are feeding the nation.
What is required is to ensure that they are given good equipment, they are allowed to access big equipment through the provision of big or small loans,” Bishop Mchombo said.
He also appealed to the government to work out strategies that would cushion the impact of the global economic crisis.
Bishop Mchombo urged Zambians to remain focused and hopeful despite the economic challenges that they were currently facing.
“I think we should turn these challenges we are facing into opportunities for better things, I think as Zambia, we can match forward and we have to focus again on our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Mchombo.
Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO
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