A PASTORAL LETTER-Council of Churches in Zambia

We, the Heads of Churches of CCZ gathered on 14th August, 2012, to deliberate on a number of issues pertaining to the state of our nation. We bring fraternal greetings to the members of our churches, our brothers and sisters from all walks of life and to the leadership of this Nation. We address this letter to the members of our churches, all people of faith, the citizens at large and to the leadership of this Nation. We are motivated to release this Pastoral Letter by our Biblical mandate and in line with our prophetic role of constructively dialoguing and constructively criticising and be able to provide the Nation with the spiritual counsel and guidance on some of the challenges that face the nation today. In all our work, we keep in mind the wellbeing of the state of the nation and its people. We endeavour to demonstrate our aspiration as a Church mother body that full human dignity is realisable, as derived from the enjoyment of basic human rights and freedoms by all people. We reaffirm that all human beings are created in the image of God and thus have intrinsic value, and this is a fundamental basis that informs our efforts to ensure social justice. It is this basic truth that mandates us to invite all Zambians and the leadership of the Nation to reflect with us on a number of biblical principles that are particularly relevant to the socio-political, cultural and economic challenges that continue to afflict us. In order to enable our people respond to the present realities, we unwaveringly commit to raising the Nation’s conscience. 2.0 Vision To be a prophetic voice with a transformative impact on the church and society for the propagation of Christian values and Human Dignity. 3.0 Mission To strengthen Christian unity and advocate for social justice, peace and development through facilitation, resource mobilization, capacity building, coordination, spreading of the gospel and networking with stakeholders for the benefit of the people of Zambia to the glory of the triune God. 4.0 Audit and/or Registration of Churches in Zambia CCZ acknowledges that the Republican Constitution provides for the freedom of worship and that every Christian has a right to follow their religious persuasion. We strongly believe that Zambians must have a freedom of worship without any interference; they should be allowed to form and belong to ministries and denominations that in their view, represent their desire to respond to the God within. For indeed, there are many parts and yet the same body, different callings but yet the same Lord is served. As a church we deeply regret the incidents which have linked some churches and clergy to un-Christian conduct thereby abusing the trust deposited in the Church. These events prompt us to call for a clear and separate system that can be charged with the responsibility of scrutinising new applications for registration of churches and regulating the conduct of all registered churches in Zambia. This system should also regulate individual church leaders’ conduct in their own personal capacity so that there iniquities do not criminalise the entire church. The office of the Registrar of Societies is doing a commendable job in registering churches but CCZ is calling for a closer collaboration with the registered credible church mother bodies together with the Registrar of Societies. As CCZ, we avail ourselves for consultations on how this social malaise can be nipped in the bud. 5.0 Constitutional Making Process For the umpteenth time, Zambia has once again re-started the national constitution making process under the administration of the once-opposition now turned-ruling party, the Patriotic Front (PF). In the run-up to the tripartite 2011 elections, and being consistent with its campaign promises since 2001, the PF had stood on the platform of giving the Zambian people a Constitution that they would call their own. Six months after its appointment, the Technical Committee on Drafting the Republican Constitution (TCDRC) on April 30, 2012 released to the public its First draft for public consultations and input. We reaffirm our support for most of the submissions contained in the Mung’omba Draft Constitution and Report as a true reflection of what the people have been stating they wanted their country’s constitution to look like. We want to reiterate the views we kept on sharing during the failed National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and its related processes that unless the process is clearly guaranteed, all Constitution making efforts are bound to be fruitless. We do not wish to be prophets of doom but in the absence of a proper legal framework and a proper roadmap the process might be another failure. At the moment, the process remains unclear to the Church and the general public. For example, how will delegates to the district, provincial and national conventions be selected? How can the process guarantee that there is no inbuilt majority of cadres, politicians and ruling party sympathisers as was the case during the infamous NCC? There is the imperative to foster a spirit and idea of democracy and logical debate during these conventions. However, bearing in mind that it is the already heavily taxed Zambians that are financing this process, we are concerned about the lack of clarity on the exact budget for the exercise. We urge for a full disclosure of the sources of finances towards the process. It is our fervent hope that this process will quickly be concluded through holding of a Referendum. Procrastinating on the issue of a referendum will not be acceptable to the Church. The church is requesting that a firm Roadmap regarding the holding of the referendum be announced to the public without delay. This process cannot be allowed to fail again. Social Responsibility, Economic and Environmental Justice ‘He has shown you Oh man... what is good, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8 In an effort to emulate the works of our forbearer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who fed the hungry, healed the sick and defended the weak and poor from all forms of socio-economic injustice, CCZ remains unequivocal about the need for social responsibility, as well as ensuring socio-economic and environmental justice. We welcome and advocate for responsible investments which go beyond macro-economic gains but also creates quality employment and improves the lives of the worker, his/her community and takes care of the environment. We remain resolute in ensuring that the poor and weak, the marginalised and voiceless are not manipulated and their rights trampled upon by the greed and desires of profit-making, especially in regards to the following. a. Minimum Wage Since government announced the revision to the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act, Cap. 276 through the release of the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (General) (Amendment) Order, 2012 by way of Statutory Instrument (SI) Nos. 46 and 47 on July 4, 2012, the country has witnessed a spate of industrial unrest which even led to the misfortune of losing one life. In other instances, productivity has been negatively hampered via work stoppages and, in general, the SI has contributed to increased tension between employers and employees. CCZ had earlier issued a statement in which it retaliated their firm support of the Government’s policy on better wages and better lives for the people in Zambia. In that statement we also cautioned the government on their impromptu directive and warned that the sudden decision could be a recipe for industrial unrest and many companies would opt to shut down than to bear costs they could not immediately implement. We said that the alternative would be the increased casualization which would be against the Government’s well intended call for permanent and quality jobs for Zambians. We note with concern that such an otherwise well intentioned move by the government has had such negative repercussions much to the disdain of key stakeholders. We are appalled at the apparent departure from inclusiveness in the governance system and urge for broadmindedness when dealing with matters of national interest and avoid practices that carry the risk of being misinterpreted. We therefore call for restraint from all parties involved; the workers, the employers as well as government as we work towards finding a lasting solution to this thorny issue. b) Manganese Mining and related issues “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it”. (Psalm 24:1) Since the enactment of the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008, the country has witnessed an increase in mining related activities nearly everywhere in the country. There seems to be a rush for the country’s various mineral deposits, and especially in regard to new ores like Manganese, uranium, among others. The Bible prompts us to be good stewards; it urges us to ensure that all of the earth’s rich endowments are used for the benefit of all creation and for the Glory of the triune God. We are however amazed at the blatant disregard for the tenets of good stewardship. We are deeply saddened by the wanton opening of mining activities everywhere and anywhere without a clear strategy on how the extractive sector will be managed. We urge for forthrightness, especially in the manganese trade in Mansa where the disregard for regulations and the “no concern” for tomorrow is apparent. Sustainability is key and we appeal to the Ministry of Mines that this be engendered in all our operations. We urge for clear guidelines to help curb the sprawling illegal manganese mining to help protect the environment and secure livelihoods and social harmony. c. Pollution from the Chilanga Cement and Kafue Steel Plants We cannot underscore any further the need for investments that are responsive to the needs of the local community while ensuring that the environment is protected and preserved. This is primarily so because God is no longer creating any more land, and our continued stay on this planet is to a greater extent dependent on how well we manage the environment. This is the reason CCZ is greatly concerned about the continued disregard of provisions in the Environmental Management Act that relate to noise and air pollution. Chilanga Cement, renamed Lafarge Cement Plc, has been a great part of the life of the residents of Chilanga and the country as a whole. As demand for its products increase, we have seen a corresponding increase in investment to bolster productivity. We are worried that there seems to be a leaning towards the profit motive to the exclusion of clean and safe disposal of pollutants for the sake of humans beings. Similarly, the Kafue steel plant had been a controversial investment which was rejected by the residents and technocrats from regulatory bodies like the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) who also advised against it. It is under a year when a life was lost and the nation is still in the dark as to the cause of that early morning industrial blast that reaped the roof open leading to injuries, death and damage to property. We are seeing a repeat of this in Senior Chief Musele’s chiefdom where the host community is dissatisfied about the process of engagement in the new Kalumbila (also known as the Trident project) mine of First Quantum Minerals and yet politicians have sided with the investors and have pushed the project forward. CCZ wants to re-state its position that any investment that does not respect the views of local people is not worth the name because in whose interest will such be! Therefore we urge the PF government to show leadership in this regard and be more practical in redressing the continuing misunderstandings between investors and host communities. We pray against the ‘rule-by-any-means’ mentality. d. Youth Unemployment Zambia’s population is youthful with over 60 per cent being below 40 years. This segment of our population represents the future of our beloved country and hence the need for clear and concise policies and strategies that will address the needs of our youth. We note with concern the lack of tangible action on the development of regular updates on what strategies are being developed to redress youth unemployment as directed by the Head of State during commemoration of the 2012 Youth Day (12 March). We appeal that this process be consultative and participatory to bear good results. We note, further, the pronouncements by the government to reintroduce compulsory National Service training to all school leavers. CCZ is of the view that in order to meaningfully address challenges affecting our youth, there is an urgent need to adopt a holistic approach. Piecemeal attempts would not last and may further entrench the problems. 6.0 Defilement and Gender-based Violence ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female but all are one in Christ’ Galatians 3: 28; and ‘. . .husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church . . .’ Ephesians 5: 25 The Church is concerned by the increase in defilement and gender based violence against our children, sisters and mothers. The trend does not seem to be abated by the heavy sentences being meted out against the child defilers. The increase in reported deaths of young women at the hands of suspected serial killers must be brought to an end. We urge the state to expedite efforts aimed at creating an environment in which everybody feels secure in order to enhance productivity. We encourage peace and love and invite the spirit of conflict resolution and dialogue into our homes and society so that family values are no longer threatened by this violence among us. We reiterate our call on mothers and sisters that have been victims of this violence to come out in the open and seek healing through counselling from our churches and other such places. Further, we pray that victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse would gain courage to report their partners to the church and the police, whichever they will find comfortable. CCZ is calling on the government to provide adequate resources to the police service to enable them to carry out their mandate of protecting all citizens and to make communities safe environments for our women and children. The police also need to rise to the occasion and exert their professionalism, authority and power to deal with this horrifying situation without being sensational, provocative and simplistic as they carry-out their investigations. The church is calling upon the people of Zambia to be vigilant and security conscious in the face of these happenings. We urge that we should all be our sister and brother’s keepers at all times and in all situations. 7.0 State of Politics Ten Months into the Patriotic Front (PF) Government ‘But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve...’ Mark 10:43-45. On 20th September, 2011 the Zambian people ushered the Patriotic Front (PF) party into government to superintend over the affairs of the nation and state. This was on the premise that the new government will respect the individual freedoms and rights of all citizens and residents, and that they will uphold the basic tenets of multi party democracy. However, it makes sad reading to see at this early stage a departure from the values and principles which the now ruling party espoused in their campaigns. We have noted with sadness the tendency for the ruling party not to embrace divergent views particularly from the opposition politicians. We call upon the government to be inclusive, consultative within and without themselves and be willing to listen to its electorate. A culture of tolerance and respect for peers and all people should be entrenched in government and also in all citizens. This act will enhance and help to galvanise all national interests towards social cohesion and sustainable development. We call for professionalism in the police force and all law enforcement agencies so that the cause for law-enforcement is not misunderstood to be politically inspired. The right to free political speech should be protected, and we should never give in to temptations that endanger our resolve to pay close attention to the sole purpose of governance, that is, addressing issues that affect the majority poor Zambians and to improve lives for all. The deportation of the Catholic Priest, Fr. Viateur Banyangandora, pastor of Lundazi, is totally unacceptable and unfortunate. CCZ is calling for the nullification of his deportation so that the Father can come back and continue his work of defending the poor as that is the core business of the Church; to preach the pure word of God, to stand with the poor, to give them moral guidance, to give them hope and to walk with them in their distress. His deportation is discriminatory and totally unjustified. We, therefore, urge all Zambians to be more patriotic, vigilant and report to the authorities all forms of injustices, to expose the same without fear or favour. 9.0 Conclusion Zambia is our land, our only heritage. With the face of God and His glory shining upon Zambia, we are confident that peace, love and prosperity will form the basis of our daily interaction so that in Zambia, justice will once more flow like a river (2 Chronicles 6:8 and Amos), in this lifetime. Finally we urge the government to help the nation to grow our young democracy to maturity where governance is based on real objective decisions that would lead to development rather than for expediency. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) Signed:Rev Suzanne Matale, General Secretary For and on behalf of the Heads of Churches Council of Churches in Zambia