ZAMBIA: ZCCB Calls on Government to Address Refugees and Immigrants’ Plight
Mwenya Mukuka
The Catholic Bishops in Zambia have appealed to government to look into the plight of immigrants and refugees.
“There is need to look into the plight of immigrants and refugees in the country and especially our brothers and sisters from Rwanda and Ethiopia. We have also noted that there is a need to enhance minority rights and pass legislature that will protect the same. Nevertheless, minority rights cannot be equated with LGBTQIA promotion,” the bishops said.
Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops in Zambia have observed that the Constitutional review process in the country seems to be very slow yet the need to re-look into the constitution and other pieces of legislation such as the Electoral Process, Public Order Act, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code is long overdue.
In a state of the nation pastoral statement issued at the end of their week-long annual retreat held at the Mornese Spirituality Centre, the residence of the Salesian Sisters in Makeni township of Lusaka, the Bishops further observed that due to lack of clear road map for constitutional, electoral and legislative reform agenda, Zambia’s current Constitution remained susceptible to regular alteration and politicization.
The 11 Bishops have since called on government to guide in an open and transparent manner when and how the constitutional, electoral and legislative reform processes will be undertaken.
“We are concerned with the manner some recent elections were conducted in Zambia. There are some recurring shortfalls such as political violence, tribalism, regionalism, political intolerance, lack of intra-party democracy, hate speech, name calling, bribery, polarization of the media and corruption,” the bishops said.
The bishops also noted that the perceived biasness by the Electoral Management Board (EMB) especially towards the ruling party has resulted in the diminishing of public confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
On the issue of climate change, the bishops noted the Climate change effects that have continued to undermine agriculture productivity in Zambia as evidenced by floods in the Southern Province and late coming of rains in the rest parts of Zambia and partial draughts in the previous rain seasons.
“Our appeal is that we combine our efforts in conscientizing our people on environmental protection and disaster preparedness,” they said.
And in inviting Zambians to preserve the peace and unity the country has enjoyed since the attainment of political independence, the bishops called for the avoidance of any form of tribal, political or religious discrimination but to work hard for a better Zambia and safeguard the national identity of One Zambia One Nation.
The state of the nation pastoral statement also addressed high poverty levels in the country, moral decay, unemployment, public health, free education policy and environment and climate change. Other issues addressed are Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Rule of Law and access to justice, fight against corruption.
Ends.
