Church has betrayed Zambians, says Changala

Church has betrayed Zambians, says Changala

By Tony Nkhoma

HUMAN Rights Activist Brebner Changala says Zambians feel let down and betrayed by the Church for dining and wining with evildoers wielding political power.

And Changala has challenged President Hakainde Hichilema to stop abusing State power by spreading confusion and controversy on the funeral of former president Edgar Lungu.

In an interview with The Mast, Changala said it is unfortunate that the Church had decided to betray the trust of Christ by associating itself with the powerful at the expense of playing its prophetic role of reconciling and serving people from oppressors.

“The church should be seen to be a point of hope for the restless. A church as a body of Christ should condemn the evil happening in the country perpetrated by President Hichilema and his praise singers,” he said.

He said the Church had failed the people of Zambia, the way it failed to prevail on Hichilema to let go of Lungu’s body, which he had continued to torment even in death.

Changala said the Church should not sit idly by and watch the wrongs perpetrated by the United Party for National Development (UPND) government continue as the normal way of life.

“We all saw what happened during the Day of National Prayer and Reconciliation. Instead of facing the big issue, the so-called Church turned the event into Hichilema’s prayer point, betraying the people who thought the Church would prevail over Lungu’s body by asking the President to let go of his brother’s body,” he said.

Changala said the Church missed an opportunity to counsel Hichilema to honour the wishes of Lungu.

Changala said it was wrong for the Church to pretend all was well when wrongs had been committed.

“By asking for people to pray, to resolve a matter which he [Hichilema] can resolve for himself, that is unfair to the country and unfair to the departed. It is not too late. The President must disengage from Lungu’s funeral,” he said.

Changala said Hichilema had no empathy for the Lungu family, hence the continued act of hate and contempt against the remains of the former president.

“It is four months now since former president Lungu died, and it is only fair that the man is put to rest. I don’t know how Hichilema can go to bed and sleep happily with an easy heart while his brother has been in the fridge for the past four months. And yet the Church that calls itself the soul and body of Christ is quiet about such an evil act. This conduct and behaviour is appalling,” he said.

Changala said the impasse on Lungu’s funeral would have been resolved a long time ago if the church had privately urged Hichilema to show empathy to the grieving family.

Changala said the Church should have promoted dialogue during the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation, rather than turning it into a prayer point for Hichilema and his government when the country was in a serious crisis.

He said Church leaders must be messengers of God and not merchants of vengeance who find solace in praising wrongdoers.

“Sadly, the church has decided to dine with robbers and wrongdoers and oppressors in the UPND,” he said.

Meanwhile, Changala urged Hichilema to stop abusing power.

He said it was cowardice and abuse by Hichilema to fuel the impasse silently by allowing his cadres to insult.

“Hichilema has missed a golden opportunity. He should have unlocked the empathy and made a declaration and an important announcement that Edgar Chagwa Lungu can be buried. The impasse is not binding on the State. It is a case of personal ego to show that he is in charge and can control life after death. The president should have clearly given direction if he was committed to a dignified send-off,” he said.