We shall not stop talking – Bishop Msipu
- The meeting with Mweetwa was cordial and respectful in nature and nobody was intimidated.
By Mast Reporter
CHIPATA Catholic Diocese Auxiliary Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri says the Church will not stop talking and reminding those in leadership about the needs of the people they lead.
Bishop Phiri said this after holding a closed door meeting with Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa, which lasted for over four hours at his official residence in Chipata, Eastern Province, Monday.
He said the meeting was cordial and respectful in nature and nobody was intimidated.
Bishop Phiri said he informed Mweetwa about a number of issues of serious concern.
“…that as a church, we are in touch with the grassroots. We hear the complaints and sentiments of the people, and these concerns we have shared with a view that we are able to continue working together because as you know, as a church, we have many good partnerships with the government, in the area of education, or health provision, social programmes, or programmes directed towards the youth. We are working together, and we appreciate the support that the government is giving to some of our institutions, which are grant-aided,” he said.
Bishop Phiri said during the meeting he also informed Mweetwa of other areas that needed government’s attention.
He said he was hopeful that the concerns he had raised would be addressed.
There was a need to have a listening heart and not to be judgmental.
“But we have also pointed out some other areas that may need further attention, and through our meeting, I am pretty sure that something positive will come from our discussion. Generally, it was a fruitful discussion, very cordial in terms of the deliberations, and how we dealt with each issue of national interest,” Bishop Phiri said.
“The idea is to build. No one is trying to work against the other, and we need to have a listening heart, and not to be so judgmental, otherwise the discussion went on very well, and each one of us, we were free to point out certain areas where we needed to intensify our efforts in order to uplift the standards of our people.”
And Mweetwa said politicians needed counseling, guidance and advice on various issues of national importance.
He said it was important as government to from time to time engage the Church on issues affecting the nation.
“Well, we were here to pay a courtesy call to Auxiliary Bishop Gabriel Msipu at his residence here in Chipata. As you know, as national leaders, when you visit a place like this, you have to visit other national leaders, such as church leaders, because for us, as political leaders, we constantly need counseling, guidance, and advice on various issues of national importance relating to governance and national development,” Mweetwa said.
