Don't fear to express yourself
Sat 01 Sep. 2012, 10:12 CAT
We all have a duty to speak out when something is wrong. We shouldn't be silent when things are not going well. Our ability and willingness to speak out when things are wrong, when things are not going well, is the lifeblood of our country.
Mankind's ability to speak out, to speak up is the bedrock of civilisation. And on this score, the Gospel according to John is very instructive: "Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning, the Word was with God. Through him, God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out" (1 John 1-5).
Clearly, everything begins with the word, with our ability to express ourselves, to speak out. Freedom of speech and expression is the lifeblood of any democracy. To debate and vote, to assemble and protest, to worship, to ensure justice for all - these all rely upon the unrestricted flow of speech and information.
Clearly, democracy is communication: people talking to one another about their common problems and forging a common destiny. Before people can govern themselves, they must be free to express themselves.
Citizens of a democracy live with a conviction that through the open exchange of ideas and opinions, truth will eventually win out over falsehood, the values of others will be better understood, areas of compromise more clearly defined, and the path of progress opened. The greater the volume of such exchanges, the better.
Democracy depends upon a literate, knowledgeable citizenry, whose access to the broadest possible range of opinions and information enables them to participate as fully as possible in the public life of their society. Ignorance breeds apathy. Democracy thrives upon the energy of citizens who are sustained by the unimpeded flow of ideas, data, opinions and speculation.
But we also know that not all ideas that are propagated are good, correct and acceptable. Some of them are blatant lies, harmful speculation and propaganda and an abuse of the freedom of speech.
But what should the government do in cases where freedom of speech is abused with information that, in the opinion of the majority, is false, repugnant, irresponsible or simply in bad taste? The answer, by and large, is nothing. It is simply not the business of government to judge such matters. In general, the cure of free speech is more free speech. It may seem a paradox, but in the name of free speech, a democracy must sometimes defend the rights of individuals and groups who themselves advocate such non-democratic policies as repressing free speech.
Citizens in a democratic society defend this right out of the conviction that, in the end, open debate will lead to greater truth and wiser public actions than if speech and dissent are stifled.
Furthermore, the advocates of free speech argue, the suppression of speech that I find offensive today is potentially a threat to my exercise of free speech tomorrow - which perhaps you or someone else might find offensive. One of the classic defences of this view is that all people are harmed when speech is repressed. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth, if wrong, they lose the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth produced by its collision with error.
We believe that the strength of a democracy lies in the involvement of people in their own governance. As such, participation is a key component of any democracy.
We also believe that participatory governance generates an environment where matters of abuse of power, corruption and such other social evils could be controlled and even overcome. Through checks and balances, mechanisms that curb any abuses, through the separation of power among political structures, could be put in place. Through this separation of power, political structures are able to restrict each other's political discretion, whereby none of them is overly powerful and uncontrollable.
It is necessary that we all participate in the governance of our country according to our position and role, in promoting the common good.
No one should be afraid to speak out their minds. And as Nelson Mandela advised, "men must follow the dictates of their consciences irrespective of the consequences which might overtake them for it".
And as Fr Gabriel Msipu correctly observes, we all have a special mandate to help each other and to alert those in authority and make them know what is happening in certain places which sometimes they cannot visit at all. For this reason, no one should be afraid to express themselves and become tight-lipped because of fear.
We cannot deny that there is a growing culture of intolerance in our politics. And intolerance is not limited only to those in government. It is something that one sees even in our opposition political parties. You dare to challenge some of the top leaders of our opposition political parties and see what happens to your membership, to your position in the party! Freedom of expression is suppressed in many of our political organisations. It is even suppressed in the church. Dissenting voices are rarely tolerated in our political parties and in our churches. Dissent is equally not tolerated in our traditional institutions. Oppose some of our chiefs and see what happens to you!
But for as long as legitimate bodies of opinion feel stifled, vile minds will take advantage of justifiable grievances to destroy, to kill and to maim.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. And to deny any person their human rights, their freedom of expression is to challenge their very humanity.
We all know that some of this intolerance is the result of fear. And fear arises when we view everyone else with suspicion. And as we all know, the route of all problems is anger, attachment, jealousy, hatred. These are the real enemy. And there is one enemy who is always an enemy, with whom we should never compromise; that is the enemy inside your heart. You cannot change all these bad thoughts in your friend. But you have to confront and control them.
Some people turn very negative when things are not going their way. But negativity is never the solution. Anger, jealousy, impatience and hatred are the real trouble makers; with them, problems can never be solved. Though one may have temporary success, ultimately one's hatred or anger will create further difficulties.
No good ever came of anger. Anger may seem to offer an energetic way of getting things done, but a perception of the world is misguided. The only certainty about anger and hatred is that they are destructive.
And we think that anger can be of two type: hatred with ill-feeling is one while another anger - with compassion as the basis of concern - may be positive.
There is need to keep anger in check. Usually people consider that anger is part of the mind, and that it is better to show it, to let it come out. We think that is a wrong conception. Resentment because of grievances may be let out, because then it is finished. Constant anger - that, we think, it is better to check. Hatred cannot be overcome by hatred. Hatred will only regenerate more problems. If we live our lives continually motivated by anger and hatred, even our physical health deteriorates. If you succeed through violence at the expense of others' rights and welfare, you have not solved the problem, but only created the seeds of another. Tolerance and patience with courage are not signs of failure but signs of victory. Actually, if you are too important, that's a real failure. We shouldn't forget that one's own actions create one's life situation.
And as Mandela aptly put it, "anger is a temporary feeling - you soon forget it, particularly if you are involved in positive activities and attitudes. It is not easy to remain bitter if one is busy with constructive things".
Labels: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, GABRIEL MSIPU, RICHARD LUONDE
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Fr Msipu condemns dependence mentality
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 14 Nov. 2011, 14:00 CAT
CHIPATA Diocese treasurer general Fr Gabriel Msipu says the dependence syndrome is one of the main causes of poverty in the community. Delivering his sermon during Mass at St Anne's Cathedral yesterday, Fr Msipu said it was unfortunate that some people always wanted to receive. Fr Msipu said some people always wanted to be at the mercy of everyone.
"Other people just sit back and say we are poor, but in your situation, what efforts are you making to come out of it? Were you meant to be poor and does complaining lead you anywhere? Does depending on the mercy and charity of other people help at all? Sometimes we need to be ashamed of receiving handouts," Fr Msipu said.
He said those who were in the habit of depending on handouts should ask themselves whether they were only created for such.
"I believe that within ourselves there is potential, there is force that can make us come of this dependence syndrome. I know that to some of us, we are poor because of the attitude, the mentality…‘because I am poor, then other people have to come to my aid'. Now were you created simply to receive or we have the potential even to give? It gives more joy in giving than in receiving," Fr Msipu said.
He said poverty could also be attributed to laziness.
Fr Msipu said other people suspect that those who were doing fine in life were using satanic means to acquire wealth.
"It's not true that all those who are doing fine engage in satanic practices. Sometimes because you have failed to achieve that level and because you admire to be where others are and you are failing you start witch-hunting, creating stories that are not there. This doesn't help in life," Fr Msipu said.
He said other people were failing because of lacking creativity and initiative.
Fr Msipu urged the people to utilise the potential within them to develop.
Labels: GABRIEL MSIPU, POVERTY
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Stand up for what is right
By Editor
Wed 07 Sep. 2011, 13:00 CAT
Standing up for truth, for what is right, for what is just and fair can be very costly. Why should this be so? Our own and only explanation is that genuine goodness is always threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum.
And Fr Gabriel Msipu, the treasurer general of the Chipata Catholic Diocese, is very right when he says Christians should be prepared to bear the consequences of siding with the voiceless in society. Christ's entire doctrine was devoted to the humble, the poor; his doctrine was devoted to fighting against abuse, injustice and the degradation of human beings. And for this, he laid down his life. He was killed by the forces of evil. And what Christ teaches us by this is that there is need to "stand up for what is right, even if it costs you your life; the Lord God will be fighting on your side".
There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and the needy; that is the way they make their living. But we are all commanded: "Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and the needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9).
We are also told that "the righteous hate the wicked, and the wicked hate the righteous" (Proverbs 29:27) and that "bloodthirsty people hate anyone who is honest, but righteous people will protect the life of such a person" (Proverbs 29:10).
This is the world we live in, a world dominated by ill practices. And as Fr Msipu has correctly observed, there are so many ill practices that are taking place during campaigns for this month's elections. People are being attacked, injured and their property destroyed without any provocation. Their only crime is that they belong to a different political party, they are supporting a different candidate.
But what is wrong with this in a country that is constitutionally a multi-party democracy? Do they want a multi-party state with only one political party to which everyone belongs and one candidate who everyone supports? There isn't much effort on the part of the state apparatus to protect this constitutional right, the right to belong to a political party of one's choice and support candidates one finds suitable to hold public office and indeed to hold opinions, political or otherwise, different from those help by others or the dominant political parties or groupings. It is sad that those who should be upholding, promoting and defending this constitutional right are the ones in the forefront of violating it, undermining it.
Rupiah Banda, as president of the Republic and head of state, is doing nothing to protect this constitutional right of every Zambian. Rupiah is in the forefront of threatening, of harassing, of humiliating all those who are strongly opposed to his hold on power as if ours was a one party state. People are being intimidated, in all sorts of ways to vote for Rupiah and the MMD.
If Rupiah has failed to defend the constitutional rights of our people, then our people have no choice but to individually and collectively directly take up that responsibility for themselves.
Rupiah and the MMD should not be allowed to behave as if this country belongs to them and them alone. They need to be reminded that this country will not be a good place for them, for any of us to live in unless it's a good place for all of us to live in.
What Rupiah and his friends are doing amounts to taking away from our people their right to remove without bloodshed the people who govern them. The important thing about democracy is that citizens can remove without bloodshed the people who govern them. They should be able to get rid of a Rupiah by the ballot if they deem so. But that cannot be done under the political atmosphere of violence, intimidation, threats, blackmail that Rupiah has introduced in our country and is today planting in our hearts.
It is impossible for people to hold free and fair elections under this atmosphere of violence, threats, blackmail and intimidation. With this atmosphere, all our people's struggles to get control of the ballot box were a waste of time. If this continues, we shall be run by a dictatorship, a tyrannical regime.
Rupiah must ask himself what will happen when people realise what he has done to keep himself in power.
If people lose the power to sack an unwanted president, government, one of the several things happens. First, people may just slope off. Apathy could destroy our young democracy. When the turn out drops below 50 per cent, we should know we are in trouble, we are in danger. We are in trouble or in danger not because there will be no one to take up government offices. The lingering danger of voter apathy is not that public office will go unfilled, but that office holders will be elected by smaller and smaller percentages of eligible voters. And without the lifeblood of citizen participation, action, our democracy will begin to weaken and eventually disappear.
Peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections are very vital to the functioning of a democracy. We say this because in a democracy, the authority of the government derives solely from the consent of the governed. And the principal mechanism for translating that consent into governmental authority is the holding of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections.
The elections we are holding in two weeks time are therefore very important for the future of our country. And this being the case, everything that stands in the way of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections should be challenged without fear or favour. And the questions Fr Msipu is asking are very important when he asks: "Are we ready to challenge these ill-practices in society today? Are we ready to stand for the truth? Are we ready to suffer? Are we ready to bear the consequences that go by standing by the voiceless and less fortunate in society today?"
We should all join Fr Msipu in praying "that the good lord may give us the courage that we need. As people set apart but also as believers in Christ, as Christians we see so many things, but sometimes we are filled with fear. May God remove this fear, may he direct us by the Holy Spirit to remain firm and steadfast in our faith, defend it in the difficult moments of our life".
We see that Jesus' spirituality was life in the spirit, within the historical conflict, in a communion of love with the Father and the people. This spirituality was the result of his opening to the Father's gift and of his liberating commitment to the life aspirations of the oppressed. For Jesus, the world wasn't divided between the pure and the impure, as the Pharisees wished; it was divided between those who favoured life and those who supported death. Everything that generates more life - from a gesture of love to social revolution - is in line with God's scheme of things, in line with the construction of the kingdom, for life is the greatest gift given to us by God.
And in that communion with the Father, Jesus found strength for struggling for the scheme of life, challenging the forces of death, represented particularly by the Pharisees, against whom the Gospels present two violent manifestos (Mathew 23 and Luke 11:37-57).
Therefore, there is no contradiction between the struggle for justice and the fulfillment of God's will. One demands the other. All who work along that line of God's scheme for life are considered Jesus' brothers and sisters (Mark 3:31-35). This is the best way to follow Jesus, especially in Zambia's present situation. We prefer to say that Jesus had a spirituality of the conflict - that is, a vigour in his commitment to the poor and to the Father who granted him immense internal peace. That faith gave Jesus the necessary will for carrying out the scheme of life, even by sacrificing his own life in confrontation with the forces of death, such as oppression, injustice and religion made sclerotic by rules and rites.
Let us stand up for what is right, whatever the consequences!
Labels: GABRIEL MSIPU, RUPIAH BANDA
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It’s not wrong to inform govt about untold sufferings, says Fr Msipu
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 18 Oct. 2010, 08:10 CAT
CATHOLIC Diocese of Chipata Vicar-General, Father Gabriel Msipu, has
said it is not wrong to inform the government about the untold sufferings that Zambians are subjected to. In an interview, Fr Msipu urged Zambians to move out of the era of targeted politics.
“Remember that any person holding different or opposition opinion does not mean the person is an enemy. We all want peace and development meant to uplift the standards of the people.
It’s time to discuss real issues affecting our people instead of wasting time finger-pointing and discussing individuals. This is not in the interest of most Zambian people. Let us learn to dialogue on important issues of national interest, to be tolerant of each other, to embrace other people's opinions in humility and learn to accommodate other people's feelings,” Fr Msipu said.
He said the prophetic voice of the Church on behalf of the voiceless should not be viewed negatively.
“The Catholic Church, not speaking as a spokesperson, and in indeed many churches in Zambia are major partners in the development of our mother Zambia. These churches are supplementing the government’s effort in various sectors of life and they cannot be ignored and condemned for telling the truth about the real situation the people are facing.
The prophetic voice of the church, on behalf of the voiceless in the society, should not be viewed negatively. Do not focus on the individual but critically look and analyse what the individual is saying on behalf of the less fortunate in the society,” Fr Msipu said.
He said government should attend to people’s problems especially in rural areas.
“For instance, we have places in Eastern Province that sometimes appear not to be part of Zambia.
How many people, even some of our government officials, are familiar and in touch with the suffering the people are going through in Kanyerere, Chikwa, Chifunda, Chibeza, Zokwe, Nthumbe,Mkasanga, Simoni, Chasera, Malama, Kapiri Kasweta, Mphonde, Kabvilawa, Kaphako, M'ngulube, Chinsimbwe, Mwape, Lwembe, Nyalugwe and many other places?
These are places with no proper roads, no health institutions, dilapidated schools, no easy access to stores, ..etc. As the Catholic Church we are present in these places, we have stayed in these places and we are in touch with the real life situation of the people. What would be wrong for the bishop or priest to speak on their behalf?” Fr Msipu asked.
He said most of the clergymen who have been called names were peace-loving and had a lot of goodwill for the government.
“Mind you, these clergymen are Zambian citizens who are concerned with the suffering of their fellow Zambian citizens! It is sad that some of our top government officials lack humility to accept the truth and the advice that is sometimes given by certain church officials. This attitude is detrimental or poisonous to the country and it certainly retards development,” said Fr Msipu.
“I therefore humbly ask that the current situation and the misunderstandings that are going own between the government and some churches are not to the interest of many Zambians.”
Fr Msipu said there could never be development and progress where there was finger pointing, politics of insults and excessive suspicion between some church leaders and the government.
“Let us respect each other, appreciate each other and see each other as partners in development and try to uplift the standards of the people we have all been called to serve so that suffering may be minimised among many Zambian people. We all want peace and development for our people. May God bless Mother Zambia!” said Fr Msipu.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, GABRIEL MSIPU, POVERTY
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Shake Duffy and you’re going to shake entire Catholic Church - Fr Msipu
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 27 Sep. 2010, 10:00 CAT
SHAKE Bishop Paul Duffy and you are going to shake the entire Catholic Church, Catholic Diocese of Chipata Vicar-General Fr Gabriel Msipu has warned. And Fr Msipu said the people who are accusing the Catholic Church of supporting PF are just scared.
Delivering his sermon during Mass at St Anne’s Cathedral yesterday, Fr Msipu said the church could not isolate Mongu Diocese Bishop Duffy. He said the church would not stop speaking on behalf of the voiceless.
“When we speak they start intimidating us. We stand by Bishop Duffy, we can’t isolate Bishop Duffy. Bishop Lungu had explained about Bishop Duffy but he was misquoted. We stand by Bishop Duffy, when he spoke he was intimidated.
We don’t want the MMD Copperbelt youth information and publicity secretary Chiko Chibales,” Fr Msipu said. “If they shake Bishop Duffy they are shaking the whole Catholic Church. We are going to continue speaking for the people. Who has been to Nyalugwe? Who has been to Chasera? Who has been to Chifunda? Who has been to Kapiri Kasweta? And do you know how people are living? And I don’t know if any of the government leaders have been to these places.
“So we speak about realities of what is happening in the society. When we do that people start targeting us like Chiko… my dear shake one bishop, you are shaking the whole church.”
Fr Msipu said the church would continue to speak for the less fortunate and the voiceless in society.
“This responsibility lies in the church leaders, in traditional leaders, government leaders and in you all. We must propagate the truth. We must speak on behalf of our society. We know the truth and we must speak it in the society. And indeed as a church we have tried to be prophetic in our mission because we are there to supplement government,” Fr Msipu said.
He said the church supplements the government in the area of education, health and other social services the people deserved.
“We sometimes dialogue with government leaders on behalf of the people. We do it as ZEC Zambia Episcopal Conference, some church leaders have done this at an individual level.
Even President Rupiah Banda came to see Bishop Lungu and he was told some of the issues affecting the people of this diocese,” he said. “And when we do that as a church it doesn’t mean that we are taking sides with political parties. Some people are accusing us that we are supporting PF.
But that is not true,they are just scared.”
Fr Msipu said various accusations had been made about the Catholic Church whenever the clergymen speak but it was clear that certain people just wanted to perpetuate the status quo to maintain their positions.
He also said there was a lot of injustice on the census recruitment because a lot of unemployed people were left out.
He blamed the government for delaying the farmers’ payments for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“Let’s talk about FRA. People have not been paid their money up to now. I am told money is in the bank but people have not been paid and they depend on that money. These people want to take their children to school.
The farmers have up to now not been paid their money but they have been promised several times. Is that what you call justice? My dear brothers and sisters, if you think that is justice then you don’t deserve to be in this building,” he said.
Fr Msipu said it was unfortunate that priests were called names for highlighting the plight of the poor in society.
“In chief Pembamoyo’s area Vubwi area in Chadiza there is a problem of water and people are forced to drink water with monkeys but when I speak about it they say ‘no abambo Msipu alobelela mzandale’ Fr Msipu has become political. Issues of water, you call that politics?” asked Fr Msipu.
Fr Msipu’s remarks on Bishop Duffy come in the wake of threats from Chibale that he, with his crack squad on the Copperbelt, would march to Mongu and deal with the Bishop because of his recent statement on change of government.
Bishop Duffy had said that the people he interacted with in Western Province felt that now was the time for change.
Chibale’s remarks have also been justified by MMD youth chairman Evans Chibanda. Chibanda, last week, said all political parties in the country had militant groups and men of God should criticise the government objectively.
Labels: GABRIEL MSIPU, PAUL DUFFY, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Govt is misunderstanding Catholic Bishops – Fr Msipu
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 26 July 2010, 14:00 CAT
The Bishops always want to advise the government in good faith but they are being misunderstood, Chipata Diocese Vicar General Father Gabriel Msipu has said. And Science and Technology deputy minister Lameck Mangani said the government would continue working with the church in order to promote the common good.
During celebrations to mark Archbishop Merdado Joseph Mazombwe’s 50 years of priesthood and Bishop George Lungu’s 25 years in priesthood at St Anne’s Cathedral last Sunday, Fr Msipu said the Bishops were the public’s spokespersons on issues that affect the people in both spiritual and physical life.
“We know that you always want to advise our leaders in good faith but you are being misunderstood, you should not backtrack but you should continue speaking for the people because this is your role and you should be prepared to suffer for your flock that you are leading,” Fr Msipu said.
“We should pray for our leaders so that they rule us with justice, unity and should be ready to serve their people because both the church and the government are serving the same people. Let us engage each other with respect so that people remain one and united.”
He observed that the flock was complaining and crying because of the high poverty levels in the country.
“Help us, together with the government and other people involved in developmental programmes so that poverty can be reduced,” Fr Msipu said.
He said it was difficult for people who were suffering to understand that God was love.
“It’s too difficult for the people who are suffering to believe that God is love and it is also difficult for us to preach the good news to them. Let’s work with government in various developmental programmes like on issues to do with schools, hospitals and many other sectors,” Fr Msipu said.
He urged the government to work with the church in addressing drugs shortages in church run hospitals and other areas.
“The money is not always enough and it becomes difficult for those that are running church hospitals to continue with their work,” Fr Msipu said.
He said the Christians were worried with the current (political) situation which gave doubt as to whether next years elections would be held in a peaceful manner.
“We ask our Bishops to engage those responsible and can help us on this (elections). We must try by all means to have freedom and unity even during and after next year’s elections, we don’t want next year’s elections to be violent. We are not talking of peace because there is no war but we are looking at how things are moving at the moment,” Fr Msipu said.
He said the other area where the Bishops could speak for the people was the area of agriculture where the farmers are not benefiting from their farming activities.
“Farmers are being exploited and they are not benefitting from their farming. Injustices should reduce in our midst and those that can help speak for us are the Bishops. There is need for proper cooperation between the church and the government, sometimes it does auger well to attack and doubt each other like what is happening at the moment,” Fr Msipu said.
He commended the two Bishops for what they did in the diocese.
Archbishop Mazombwe reaffirmed the church’s commitment to working with the government in the areas of education health and others.
“Both Bishop George and I resolve and decide to forge ahead in order that we continue to render service to you,” Archbishop Mazombwe said.
He said Bishop Lungu’s vocation was unique.
Bishop Lungu who is also Zambia Episcopal Conference president and Chipata Diocese Bishop commended Archbishop Mazombwe for his guidance during his journey to priesthood.
And Mangani who is also Chipata Central member of parliament said the government was happy and proud of the tremendous contribution that the two Bishops have made in the lives of many Zambians through their service in the church and also to government.
“There is no need for me to list the many works that the two Bishops have achieved in their service over the years. What they have done is there for all to see. Going by their ministry, you may all be aware that the two Bishops have served the church in various capacities before they were appointed shepherds of this Diocese and Lusaka,” Mangani said.
He said service to God and service to a fellow human being was what the church promotes and encourages.
“When I see the church, dear people of God, it is a living spiritual fountain of this nation. No other institution can play this role because no other institution is adequate even to claim this role for itself,” Mangani said.
Archbishop Mazombwe was ordained priest on 4 September 1960 while Bishop Lungu was ordained on 29 August 1985.
The function was attended by secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio, several Malawian Bishops and government officials among many others.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, GABRIEL MSIPU, GEORGE LUNGU, MERDADO JOSEPH MAZOMBWE
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Chipata’s Vicar-General blames high poverty levels to leaders’ selfishness
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 05 July 2010, 14:50 CAT
CHIPATA Diocese vicar-general Father Gabriel Msipu last Sunday attributed the high poverty levels in the country to leaders’ selfishness.
Delivering his sermon at St Anne’s Cathedral during the 9:30 hours
Nyanja Mass, Fr Msipu said the high poverty levels in country did not
come as a result of God’s creation.
“I am asking you to listen carefully because some of you when I talk about political issues or about government you normally go and lie to the offices so listen carefully so that you can tell them the truth. I will not mention any name or political party but I want to say things the way they are. Don’t take the poverty that people are experiencing in this country to be as a result of God’s creation, no. Some of us were born in poverty and we take poverty as a normal thing but that’s not it,” Fr Msipu said.
“I want to repeat that we are a rich country, we are not supposed to be poor but the problem is that some of our leaders whether they are MPs, whether they are ministers they don’t have a good will for the people; they don’t have that heart to help the people. The sufferings that people face does not just come by, they come because of the selfishness of certain leaders whether they are in government or political parties or even in the church.”
Fr Msipu said the political intimidation that was in the country was
not helpful.
“If you look at what is in the newspapers now…I think political intimidation which is there is not helpful. There are some people whose hearts are filled with fear because they know they are being followed, they know they are being targeted. I think at our level we should do politics the way the whites do…,” Fr Msipu said.
He said people criticize to correct certain things that were not in order.
“How many Bishops are being targeted? How many priests are being followed? How many especially the political figures have no peace in their mind? We are just pointing fingers at each other, now when are we going to look at the real needs of the people? Poverty reduces people’s dignity and we have to know where this comes from. Our leaders can change things, the money is there but the monies are going into the pockets of few individuals instead of doing developmental programmes that could help the masses,” Fr Msipu said.
He said although the country was going into an election next year, very few things had happened in certain places.
“Five years have elapsed and next year we are going into an election what has happened to the people of Vubwi? People of Tafelansoni? People of Mwanya? People of Chitungulu, Chibeza, and Chifunda even Chama what has happened? Now when they do a road they publicize and sing even a bridge in Vubwi they do that, but that is shoddy work. Now are our lives going to change for the better?” Fr Msipu asked.
He also bemoaned government’s delays in paying civil servants.
“You find a situation where the salary which is the only livelihood to
some people delays, the ATM bounces because there is no money. But
where does this money go? But now if we have a by-election today, I
privately went to Milanzi during the just ended by-election and people
suspended their meals because they were receiving breakfast from the
party, they were receiving meat during lunch. I don’t know the number
of animals that were slaughtered during the by election,” said Fr Msipu.
“…People were receiving beds while money was flying all over in Milanzi. The question is why is it that money is always found for such
occasions? Where does this money come from? People want development;
farmers are stuck with their maize after being promised that the
market will be opened on May 1 but this is July, the market is not
yet open. People are selling maize at K30, 000 while in other places
they are selling at K28, 000 but the promised price is K65, 000. Where
is the justice?”
Labels: CHIPATA, GABRIEL MSIPU, GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP, POVERTY
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Freedom is not just absence of war - Fr Msipu
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Fri 28 May 2010, 03:30 CAT
CHIPATA Catholic Diocese vicar general Fr Gabriel Msipu has observed that freedom is not just the absence of war and armed conflicts. Reflecting on Africa Freedom Day, which fell on Tuesday, Fr Msipu said there should be no misconception on the understanding of freedom.
“I would like to thank and pay tribute to those who fought for the freedom that we, as a country Zambia, and indeed other nations are enjoying and remembering. But then what is freedom according to our understanding because there might be a misconception that freedom is simply the absence of war and the absence of armed conflict,” Fr Msipu said.
“I think freedom is more than that.
Today, we should be talking about the inner freedom. How many people in our society within our country are free today? What is the source of the whole joy that we are celebrating and remembering today? Are the people that are celebrating and observing this day really free?
“This day to us is a challenge because we are celebrating this day in the midst of so many challenges like the poverty that is there in most families in society today, what is the meaning of freedom to such people who are living in extreme poverty? And when we look at the high levels of unemployment, there are people out there who are looking for employment. What is their source for celebrating this day?”
He said there were so many questions that needed to be asked on Africa Freedom Day.
“There are so many diseases including the incurable diseases. There are so many people that are sick in homes and in hospitals, what has this day got to do with them? And again we are looking at many families that are really bereaved, those families that have lost the beloved ones.
Does this day have any meaning to them? Or it’s just a commemoration without much significance to them? And in the midst of rampant corruption, what is the meaning of Africa Freedom Day? Looking at the plight of farmers who are stuck with their produce, what is the meaning of celebrating this day?” Fr Msipu asked.
He said the day was a challenge to government leaders, church leaders and all those holding leadership positions.
“Are we in a position to say we are free people? Apart from maybe the absence of war, absence of armed conflict compared to what other nations in certain parts of the world might be experiencing. To me, I think freedom goes beyond this aspect of absence of war in our nation but it challenges leadership at different levels when we reflect seriously on freedom,” Fr Msipu said.
He called for higher respect for human dignity in the country.
“…And this calls for balanced sharing of the country’s resources. If we look at the society today, you find that while some people are languishing in their poverty there are also individuals or families who might be swimming in riches. So the difference that is there sometimes would be questioned if really what… the unbalanced sharing of resources is really promoting freedom in its true sense. It challenges us also because we saw in some areas where we had by-elections, there was violence.
Some people even lost their lives, some people were left with permanent injuries and this violence I don’t know, if it is really signifying what we mean about the freedom that we are supposed to celebrate today,” Fr Msipu said.
He said Zambians should work towards minimising the political violence but should instead promote unity in diversity. Fr Msipu said Zambia needed freedom that would promote integral human development.
Labels: AFRICA FREEDOM DAY, CATHOLIC CHURCH, GABRIEL MSIPU
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