PF government should find ways of creating jobs - Rev Ndhlovu
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Mon 12 Dec. 2011, 13:20 CAT
THE PF government should quickly find ways of creating employment for the unemployed youth who massively voted for change, says Rev Japhet Ndhlovu.
In an interview, Rev Ndhlovu, the former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general who is now based in Kenya, said the government should provide more incentives in its national budget for industry growth as a way of promoting employment creation.
"There should have been more incentives in the 2012 budget in industry and industry creation because that is where we need jobs for those young people who voted because if those young people do not get the jobs, they will turn around again and begin to demand for change," said Rev Ndhlovu when he commented on the recently-presented 2012 national budget to Parliament by finance minister Alexander Chikwanda.
"I mean, look at Egypt, they demanded for change, Mubarak has gone but the military is delaying with the reforms, they are again demanding for change. So we don't want that to happen in terms of young people who voted still being unemployed, not getting the jobs, and poverty levels are the same. That will be a big scandal if it happens like that."
Rev Ndhlovu, however, noted that the 2012 national budget was generally pro-poor.
He said agriculture and health had been given a lot of prominence, adding that the abolition of the medical user fees were all progressive steps.
"Of course the issue of tax, even though people will only start benefitting sometime next year maybe April, but the political will, that the process has been set in motion is good enough," he said.
And Rev Ndhlovu has advised Zambians not to be caught up in messages of HIV and AIDS because the disease is still very real and passes on when people have unprotected sex.
He said Zambians should not relax because the infection rate in the country had reduced.
"We must continue protecting life. We must continue promoting safe sexual practices, we must continue promoting availability of treatment and access to treatment for all, we must continue promoting voluntary counselling and testing. There are still some individuals who don't know their HIV status and that's unfortunate because I keep saying that you cannot talk about HIV if you have never tested," he said.
"You must test and know your status but we must also continue to advocate for empowerment of women and particular youth so that they know how to take decisions for their own lives so messages on HIV, we must not slacken, the campaign must continue, the fire is still there, let us continue pouring water and any other means to enable us to stop this fire from destroying our people."
A recently-released UNAIDS report by UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe during an International Conference on HIV, titled "HIV Prevention without Barriers", revealed that in 2010, about 68 per cent of people living with HIV resided in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with only 12 per cent of the global population.
"In 22 sub-Saharan countries, research shows HIV incidence declined by more than 25 per cent between 2001 and 2009. This includes some of the world's largest epidemics in Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The annual HIV incidence in South Africa, though still high, dropped by a third between 2001 and 2009 from 2.4 per cent to 1.5 per cent," the report stated.
"Similarly the epidemics in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia appear to be declining. The epidemics in Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland seem to be levelling off, albeit at unacceptably high levels."
Labels: CCZ, JOBS, PF, REVEREND NDHLOVU, UNEMPLOYMENT
Read more...
Honouring Rev Japhet Ndhlovu’s contributions
By Editor
Monday February 26, 2007 [02:00]
There are people who, by pursuing their own convictions and without being self-conscious about it, touch the lives of millions of others. Such has been Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu’s work in our country and among our people. Rev Ndhlovu has contributed immensely, through his personal example, to nurturing the outlook of a responsible citizen and clergyman which is so evident in the ranks of our clergy and, increasingly, in our country today. Let those politicians who have based themselves on narrow ethnic constituencies now ponder over Rev Ndhlovu’s example.
Rev Ndhlovu symbolises and personifies the alliance of the Church, the Law Association of Zambia and the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council in the Oasis Forum. It is an alliance whose durability continues to bewilder opponents. They fail to understand its deep roots and its ongoing practical relevance. Rev Ndhlovu underlines what this alliance is all about. It is about a common commitment to overcoming the problems and challenges facing our people today. It is an alliance based on serving the social needs of our people.
Rev Ndhlovu’s contributions to the struggles of our people are many. But it is, we think, his being especially a fearless, courageous, articulate and resolute spokesperson of the Oasis Forum that he’s held most dear by so many of our people. Rev Ndhlovu has played a role, often a central role, in most of the outstanding problems and challenges facing our country over the last ten years or so.
He has always been able to respond practically and dynamically to changing circumstances. Rev Ndhlovu has had the courage of his convictions, spelling out the implications of new situations which sometimes we, as a nation, have found hard to admit.
We have been extremely fortunate to have within the ranks of our civil society and the Church such an outstanding leader, who has combined a rigorous mind with attention to practical organisational work. For this reason, it is with a sense of pride and emotion that we wish him farewell and best wishes in his new assignment in Nairobi.
Rev Ndhlovu has taught us that we are living at a time when politics has entered a near-religious sphere with regard to man and his behaviour. He has shown us that we have come to a time when religion can enter the political sphere with regard to man and his material needs. From Rev Ndhlovu, we have learnt that there is no need to create artificial divisions among men. We have learnt to respect convictions, beliefs and explanations. Everyone is entitled to his own position, his own beliefs. We must work in the sphere of these human problems that interest us all and constitute a duty for all.
A person who is devoted to an idea, to work, and who sacrifices himself for others is doing what Christ wants us to do. Rev Ndhlovu, through his work and commitments, has shown us that 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.
From Rev Ndhlovu we have learnt that spirituality is a way of living life according to the spirit and doing is the best way of saying. For Christians, living is the best way of believing. Faith without deeds is worthless. Our way of life is the result of what we believe. Our way of being the Church is a reflection of our concept of God. And in this sense, all who struggle for life are included in God’s scheme, even if they lack faith. It is our 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.
Therefore, there is no contradiction between Rev Ndholvu’s struggles for justice and the fulfilment 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. This is the best way to follow Jesus, especially in our country’s present situation.
Man’s material need, the basic foundation of life, was the most sacred thing for Jesus. For Jesus it was impossible to speak of spiritual life apart from the material conditions of existence. There is nothing more sacred than man, the image and likeness of God. The hunger of that man was an offense to the creator himself. A religion that cares for the supposed sacredness of its objects but turns its back on those who are the real temples of the spirit is worthless.
They don’t understand that, in Jesus’ way of thinking, there’s nothing more sacred than the right to life. A Church that places its patrimonial interests ahead of the demands of justice, life, and the people among whom it is inserted is certainly a Church that considers man less important than the Sabbath and, like the Pharisees, reverses evangelical priorities.
In his practice, Jesus didn’t separate spiritual needs from the material demands of human life.
We believe that this is what Rev Ndhlovu stood for and symbolised in our struggles. He was there all the time at hand to take up any just cause without hesitation or considerations. Above all, he was always capable of feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone. Rev Ndhlovu acted on his beliefs and was loyal to his convictions.
What should really matter is not what one believes in but how one uses his belief or faith to constantly increase his respect for the people, to pay systematic attention to the social and human problems with which our people are faced, to raise the level of economic efficiency, to raise the quality of services and education and to do our specific jobs the best we know how.
It is our collective duty to give millions of Zambians an essential piece of dignity in their lives, the dignity that comes from having a solid roof over one’s head, running water and other services in an established community. Rev Ndhlovu’s contributions to this national agenda will certainly be missed. However, we wish him the very best in his new responsibility in Nairobi.
For all that we have said, we find it necessary to honour Rev Ndhlovu’s contributions to our people’s struggles.
Labels: CHILUBA, EDITORIAL, REVEREND NDHLOVU
Read more...
Civil Society extols Rev Ndhlovu
By Noel Sichalwe
Monday February 26, 2007 [02:00]
THE civil society has extolled outgoing Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu's commitment to improving the lives of Zambians. Commenting on the performance of Rev Ndhlovu as outgoing CCZ general secretary, Law Association of Zambia chairman William Mweemba said Rev Ndhlovu was a very focused person. Rev Ndhlovu has been transferred to Nairobi, Kenya, where he will be working as assistant for special duties to the secretary general of the All Africa Conference of Churches.
Mweemba said during his close working relationship with CCZ, Rev Ndhlovu had shown commitment in calling for a new constitution. He said Rev Ndhlovu never got distracted by various accusations like politicians did because he was fighting for a good cause. He hoped that whoever would replace him should be able to fit into his shoes in utilising the position to improve the living standards of the people. "He did what he did for the country and we will certainly miss him," he said.
Mweemba hoped that Rev Ndhlovu would continue with his commitment to the causes that affected people in Africa. He said what LAZ together with other Oasis Forum affiliates wanted was a new constitution in the country.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said he had been a friend of Rev Ndhlovu way before he was appointed CCZ general secretary. Bishop Mususu said when the Oasis Forum was formed, then CCZ general secretary Reverend Bredt Sampa was outgoing and people were worried how the new man would fit into the fight for social justice. He said surprisingly, Rev Ndhlovu proved to be a committed person in improving the welfare of the people. Bishop Mususu said he had a cordial relationship with Rev Ndhlovu and that his departure would create a gap in the Oasis Forum. He hoped that the successor would continue with the same zeal that Rev Ndhlovu had shown in fighting for the issues affecting people.
NGOCC chairperson Marian Munyinda said Rev Ndhlovu provided guidance spiritually, morally and intellectually in making decisions for the civil society. Munyinda said Rev Ndhlovu was instrumental in fighting against former president Frederick Chiluba's aborted third term bid. She said Rev Ndhlovu further played a key role in calling on Parliament to remove Chiluba's immunity to face prosecution on corruption charges. Munyinda also said Rev Ndhlovu helped in pressing President Mwanawasa to put in place a new constitution after assuming office in 2002.
She said Rev Ndhlovu had continued fighting for a new constitution even now that they were still looking into the roadmap needed for enacting a new constitution. Past NGOCC chairperson Lucy Muyoyeta said she worked incredibly well with him on various issues. "Reverend Ndhlovu was committed to issues affecting the poor people in the country," she said. "On matters affecting people, he could give himself fully. He has a sharp intellect which he applied when he was in that position."
Labels: CCZ, GOVERNANCE, REVEREND NDHLOVU
Read more...
