THINGS ARE BAD – CATHOLIC PRIEST
IT is a shame that Zambians have continued to suffer under the UPND government, with farmers sleeping overnight at commercial banks corridors, skyrocketing prices of fertiliser, fuel and mealie meal, a Catholic priest has said.
Father Michael Elvis Chimfwembe says Zambians have been enduring the hard and excruciating hardship in the last four years and has described the government interventions as nothing little more than voter enticements rather than real solutions.
Fr Chimfwembe, a curate at St John the Evangelist Cathedral Parish under the Kasama Archdiocese, said rising fuel, fertiliser and mealie-meal prices, coupled with unpaid farmers spending nights at commercial banks in desperate attempts to access funds, was painting a grim picture that contradicted official statistical economic growth and assurances.
Fr Chimfewmbe said this during Sunday Holy Mass to observe the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A at Saint John the Evangelist Cathedral Parish of Kasama Archdiocese.
“To me, this is a shame. Let us not pretend as Christians that things are okay when our brothers and sisters are suffering,” Fr Chimfwembe said. “If you are in a better position yourself, don’t think everyone else is.”
He said that farmers had been among the hardest hit, noting that despite repeated assurances from politicians in government that money was available in banks, many farmers had been forced to queue for days, exposed to harsh
weather, hoping to access their funds.
“Politicians (in government) appear on television saying money is there, but if that is true, why are farmers lining up in the sun?” he asked.
“Some of them did not even celebrate Christmas or New Year with their families. They slept at bus stations and banks, asking themselves, ‘If I go back home, will I still find the money?’”
Fr Chimfwembe warned that the continued neglect of farmers could have dire consequences for national food security.
“I am afraid that if this continues, next year we may not even have enough food to feed the people of Zambia,” he said.
He also raised concern over the plight of civil servants, particularly in the education sector, saying many teachers remained demotivated due to stagnant salaries and prolonged acting appointments.
“When I move from one school to another, I hear the same complaints. The cost of living is high, yet salaries are stuck. Some have been acting head teachers since 2015. They are called ‘Ba Sir’ out of respect, but their salaries leave much to be desired,” Fr Chimfwembe said.
Fr Chimfwembe dismissed recent improvements in electricity supply as temporary and politically motivated, warning citizens not to be deceived.
“The epileptic supply of electricity… make no mistake, this is an election year. The consistent power supply you are seeing now is meant to entice you,” he said.
“After elections, you will see the real picture. Don’t throw away your power bank.”
He warned that claims the Kariba Dam was full could be misleading, warning that it would have to dry no sooner than the August general elections would be over.
“You and I must speak a message of hope and consolation,” he said. “We must not keep quiet while people suffer.”
Daily Nation Zambia
Ama fazaz na bapya. Ya ba nyokola njala as they are not getting brown envelopes anymore. Speak for yourselves. Zambians are betterer than in 2021. Before 2021 the money was kaloba.
Instead of inspiring hope in the poor, this faza is exploiting the poor people’s vulnerability to deal with his hangover after the disappearance of brown envelopes from PF. He is grappling with severe brown envelopes withdrawal symptoms.
HH hater priest, country’s going the right direction now, in macro sense. . Imagine if the violence had continued, Imagine if the default was not corrected, and so forth, what could’ve become of the country Zambia? Dishonest priest, preying on the minds of the poor, shame on him
Very useful father, an opposition hired priest. We shall completely stop respecting these so called Men of God. These are just crooks used to PF ‘ s past corruption. Why highlighting negatives without equating with positives. Rubbish thinking. This man shouldn’t say that he’s blind and can’t see numerous developments in Zambia. Just a fault finder . Don’t think Catholics are better than any other churches. Many Zambians and genuine Catholics included appreciate what the current government is doing basing on what they inherited. The Catholic faithfuls are not confused but the so called leadership – bishops and fathers. Zambia forward with the majority.
Not VERY USEFUL FATHER but VERY USELESS FATHER.
Things may be bad now but things were no better during PF either especially when PF cadres were masquerading as priests while eating from the same plate.
Ba faza please spare us from your delusional lamentations. Things could be bad now but they were worse four years ago, you are not just honest to yourself and to the people. More than two million children are in school, Zambia is now exporting fertilizer to the Region, fuel is relatively cheaper compared to some countries, for example in our neighboring Malawi, fuel is about 4500 MK per litre. All the farmers countrywide are already paid, you are of problems that are already solved. As a priest, you should be telling people that in this world of sin, there is no time when a country can have 100% things well. It’s only in heaven where we shall have a 100% good life which cannot be compared to any.
Seems the Catholic lacks critical thinkers.
Why have farmers been paid late? Understand what happened. Why it happened and what led to a disconnect between FRA and the banks. If we dont ask these kinds of questions follow the answers given and instead just keep repeating the issue NOT to seek and an understanding but to stay relevant cause you had no message to preach during a cgurch service cause you were so lazy to do what you were supposed to do…therein lies the problem.
Some individuals by virtue of their position think the are beyond being criticised. They have forgotten their calling to preach the word of God and want to deflect there calling to politick.
If you are a muppet whose strings are being pulled by another whose priorities are misplaced. Remember God will judge you; you can fool man. But God is watching you. You pledged to serve God
The church is now a bad place with fathers and priests like this baboon.
Keep praying to judus Iscariot