Catholic Lawmakers in Zambia Put on the Spot over Contested Bill

In their collective statement that was issued June 9, the Catholic Bishops in Zambia appealed to the MPs across the political divide “to respect the will of the majority of Zambians and immediately withdraw the said Bill 10 from the floor of the House.”

According to the Prelates, Bill 10 lacked “genuine consensus and has become a source of division in the country.”

Published in the Government Gazette on June 21, 2019, the controversial Bill, which seeks to amend sections of Zambia’s current Constitution has also drawn criticism from the Commonwealth Lawyers Association who said that if enacted, it will turn the Southern African nation into a dictatorship. 

On Monday, June 15, the Association of Catholic MPs held a media briefing in Lusaka at which it differed with the Catholic Bishops of Zambia on their call for the withdrawal of Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 10 from the floor of the house.

In response to the media briefing, Archbishop Ignatius Chama of the Archdiocese of Kasama, on Thursday, June 25 said the Bishops were no longer willing to engage the parliamentarians in “arguments.”

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“There is no need to argue on important matters bordering on the welfare of the nation that should only be left to the conscience of the individual,” the Archbishop said in a message that was published by the Bishops’ official Facebook page.

In the message, Archbishop Chama says that in society, “when a parent counsels a child and the child disputes the counsel, the parent cannot proceed because then it becomes argumentative.”

The leader of the Catholic lay faithful in Zambia, Mr. Chinama, has since demanded an apology from the Catholic Parliamentarians.

“If you are really Catholics, with a conscience which is alive, you need to apologize and seek reconciliation with the Church and God. Your action was aimed at nothing, but on intent of putting the Conference in ridicule and tarnishing its admirable image both at regional and international levels respectively,” he said in reference to the umbrella body of the Bishops, ZCCB.

According to the ZNCCL official, the association of the faithful remains indebted to the continuous and steady growth and active participation of the laity in the life and mission of the Church.

“In order to remain relevant in Church and society, the laity shall continue sharing in Christ’s kingly office through their secular activities as they promote justice, love and peace,” he said, and added, “It is by doing our daily work well and remaining vigilant, wherever we may be, that would help to promote the Creator’s plan and bring the light of Christ to the world.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.