ZAMBIA: Church Warns of “Worrisome Trends” in Country

LUSAKA, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 (CISA)-Bishop George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) is concerned says some trends in Zambia are worrisome and should not be left unchecked.

Speaking when he officially opened a ZCCB peacebuilding workshop on the theme Towards a Peaceful Zambia – the role of the Church held in Lusaka, on Wednesday, Bishop Lungu said the developments in the country if left unchecked will lose its treasured peace.

“It is morally unacceptable to allow certain trends to go on while we remain watching and waiting from our comfort zones.  This workshop is no doubt, a manifestation of that desire to do something about our situation. A time to take note of the silent cries of our people,” said Bishop Lungu.

He noted that the Church must remain true to its identity as effective promoters and mediators of peace.

“The ZCCB President further said that the Church may take pride as a voice of the voiceless, the conscience of the nation, yet if the voice of the Church at certain critical times goes silent for whatever reason, that is failure on its mission,” ZCCB reported.

He reiterated that the Church must remain true to its identity as ambassadors of Christ and effective promoters and mediators of peace.

“Rt. Rev. Lungu has since hoped that with the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the workshop will bring about genuine peace and reconciliation in Zambia,” the report reads.

The two-day workshop held at Kapingila house, in Lusaka Zambia which aims at raising awareness as key pastoral agents to be true and effective promoters and mediators of peace in Zambia has attracted 44 participants from all Catholic Dioceses of Zambia.

The participants include Bishops, Pastoral Coordinators, Communication Secretaries, Caritas and Social Program Directors, and members of the Catholic Secretariat Management team.

And speaking in his presentation, Bishop Evans Chinyemba of Mongu urged Christians to conduct interdenominational prayer meeting on peace.