ZAMBIA: ZCCB Worried Some Trends May Force Zambia Sacrifice Its Treasured Peace
Participants during peace workshop in Zambia
Mwenya Mukuka
As the nation approaches its general elections which are scheduled for August 2021, President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Rt. Rev. George Lungu says some trends in Zambia today are worrisome and if left unchecked may force the country to sacrifice its treasured peace.
Bishop Lungu said this when he opened a ZCCB Peace building workshop in Lusaka on Wednesday 11th November, 2020 under the theme ‘Towards a Peaceful Zambia-The role of the Church’.
Already, there are concerns from the opposition and some media outlets that if mismanaged, the electoral process may be marred by fraud and irregularities, which may result in violence.
The two-day workshop held at Kapingila house, in Lusaka Zambia aimed at raising awareness for key pastoral agents to be true and effective promoters and mediators of peace in Zambia, a forum which attracted 44 participants from all Catholic dioceses across the country.
Participants included bishops, pastoral coordinators, communication secretaries, Caritas social program directors and members of the Catholic Secretariat management team.
“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,” said Bishop Lungu.
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.
Rt. Rev. Lungu has expressed hope that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the workshop will bring about genuine peace and reconciliation in Zambia.
