CHURCH LEADERS SHOULD BE FREE TO SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE AND NOT ALL ARRESTS ARE SANCTIONED BY THE PRESIDENCY
Dr Nevers Mumba
Following our earlier counsel regarding the Police callout made out to Father Andrew Chewe Mukosa a Catholic Priest of Lufwanyama, who made some statements about the challenges being faced by Zambians. I wish to make the following statements.
To begin with, our position on what the priest said from the pulpit is that a church leader should be free to speak on any issue that affects his congregants. It may favor a government in place or it could be opposed to government’s view. The Bible covers both spiritual and socio economic issues. The only time a church leader should be apprehended is when he offends the law in either his conduct or speech.
Having said that, I now wish to address the next issue of the Police response to the to the catholic Priest’s statement.
I wish to give my opinion on the insinuation we are getting from several submissions is that President Hichilema is the one who directed the police to send out a call out to the Catholic priest for the statement he made in Church. This view represents how polarized and toxic our politics has become. The police are an independent service. They make both good and bad judgement. Thats why we have a court system which sorts out the good from the bad intentions.
As far as we know, The Presidency is a powerful institution by constitution, but the assumption that the president directly controls all institutions of state is a misguided view.
President Hichilema, like all of us will be interested to know why the police have taken this move. Until the priest is interviewed, we don’t know whether he has been called to explain his statement or there is another matter he has been called for. To assume that President Hichilema sent the police is malicious. This view of the presidency comes from an old time perception that presidents since independence are so powerful that they direct law enforcement wings to persecute political opponents. While this could be true in certain cases it’s not true in all cases.
Some of the Clergy we have today would have been struck with fire and Brimstone for profaning the Pulpit!
A good Pulpit is a conveyor belt for the word of God and not the political opinions of the preacher!
What happened to those good preachers who preached long-suffering, patience, perseverance and resilience in the face of hardships?
The good preachers who encouraged the flock to work harder and keep on trying till they saw breakthrough?
Good preachers who helped the flock to see hope beyond suffering?
We have many stories of drought in the Bible and how real men of God prepared the people’s minds on how to deal with the food and water challenge!
This is the message people should be getting from the Pulpits, not political hogwash!
Put a clear distinction between holy and unholy issues!
Yes true Church leaders should be free to air their grievances on behalf of the people but should never practice politics from the pulpit nor preach partisan politics. Look at Rwanda alot of the genocide was from the pulpit.