ZAMBIA: Catholic Media To Drive Digital Solution Agenda Amidst The Covid-19

By Mwenya Mukuka

The Catholic Media, through Loyola and Lumen Television has signed a partnership with ZAMTEL, Zambia’s indigenous telecommunication company, in a bid to drive the digital solution agenda amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership will see 6 million Catholics in the country being connected through the two Lusaka based Catholic owned Television channels.

The Bishops Conference in Zambian owns Lumen TV Zambia while Jesuits own Loyola.

Loyola Television Executive Director Fr. Patrick Mulemi,SJ says the partnership is part of the Catholic media’s vision 2021 to connect and reach out to over 6 million parishioners and the general public through the television medium.

Speaking during the signing ceremony Wednesday, 24^th March, 2021, Fr. Patrick Mulemi, SJ., said the common principle of the church, of communicating and televising, plays a critical role in evangelisation.

He said communication has always been a key principle of the life of the Church since its foundation.

And Father Mulemi has said the digital era presents many opportunities in modern culture and the church should take such an opportunity adding that it presents an opportunity for the church to reach out to the masses without any physical contact.

ZAMTEL will sponsor the filming and broadcasting of Catholic mass nationally through Lumen and Loyola television.

This will give an opportunity in times of Covid-19 or any other time when one cannot attend mass physically but can follow mass online or television.

In a country where there is too much unemployment, Fr. Mulemi,SJ disclosed that the partnership will create over 1 thousand jobs for the young generation countrywide.

He also said that the partnership will enable the church to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News.

And ZAMTEL Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said the company has pledged to support the Catholic church media in the quest to preach the good news and reach out to the masses.

Mr. Mupeta said with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to embrace digital transformation has become more urgent as it is now a requirement for the church to continue communicating the message to its followers under the new normal.

He said the step taken by the Catholic church in Zambia to embrace digital solution is a huge milestone and sets the tone for a steady introduction of digital activities.