ZAMBIA: Churches Disturbed by Sale of Beer at Graveyards
The Catholic Church, Seventh Adventist Church and the New Apostolic Church are disturbed by sale of beer at graveyards and have challenged the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to find ways to stop people from conducting such businesses at the burial sites.
In an interview on the matter, Fr Cleophas Lungu, has condemned the practice arguing that a graveyard is a resting place for the deceased, which should not be turned into a place where people gather to sell and drink beer, adding that such acts should not be condoned in Lusaka City.
“We believe that whilst on those premises, what is cardinal is to pray for our beloved ones; remember them; and show that we care. Those who take alcohol can do so elsewhere but not at the graveyard. We don’t condone such practices and people should stop going to the cemeteries while drunk,” he said.
On his part, Pastor Evans Manjimela of Seventh Day Adventist Church University branch stated in an interview that the immoral activities of selling and drinking alcohol at the cemeteries was regrettable and should be stopped. He said it was a sign of disrespect to the dead for people to sale alcohol on grave sites.
“What is lacking is the moral attitude. We have always known graveyards as a place where our loved ones are resting. We don’t expect immoral activities such as selling and drinking of alcohol. Let’s respect the resting place by not conducting businesses there,” he said.
He had also called upon the church and other organisations to sensitize members of the public on appropriate conduct when at graveyards. The pastors suggested to the LCC that graveyards needed to be safeguarded by barricading them.
“The churches, the community, and the media should continue sensitizing members of the public that just as we respect the dead when going to bury them, there is a need to also respect the graveyards. The Council should secure these place by fencing them.
Meanwhile, the New Apostolic Church Public Relations Officer Nimon Muleya has also called upon the local authority to find ways on how to secure public cemeteries.
“I think the competent people should stop the vice. It is disrespectful to our departed loved ones to conduct such business at cemeteries. Let’s show them respect and stop that practice,” he said.
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