PROTEST TO DEFEND CONSTITUTION
…aba Christian bafwile ukuya sanafye mumisebo nokucita demonstration pafintu ifilecitika-Archbishop Ignatius Chama
… Archbishop Chama calls on believers to join Oasis Forum nationwide protests against controversial submissions to the Mushabati-led Technical Committee.
By George Zulu
CHRISTIANS must take part in the planned nationwide protests organised by the Oasis Forum to defend the Constitution and reject submissions made to the Christopher Mushabati-led Technical Committee, Archbishop of Kasama Archdiocese Ignatius Chama has said.
Speaking when he featured on the Wednesday edition of Radio Lutanda’s Ishiwi lyakwa Kacema , Archbishop Chama said Christians had a responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution from any political manipulation.
“Abana baleipusha ukuti bushe aba Christian kuti baibimba muma public demonstrations? Mukwasuka, aba Christian bafwile ukuya sanafye mumisebo nokucita demonstration pafintu ifilecitika mubwikashi bwabantu ifilebapoka umulinganya, ukucindamikwa nefilebatitikisha ngabekala calo. [Christians must join these countrywide protests to express their displeasure over the ills going on in the country],” Archbishop Chama encouraged the Catholic faithful.
He reminded Christians that peaceful demonstrations or protests were protected by the Constitution as they were part of the freedoms enshrined in the supreme law of the land.
He said the Oasis Forum called on Zambians to march to the State House in Lusaka on Friday, November 28, to demonstrate against the manner government wanted to make changes to the Constitution.
“Aba Kristiani bafwile ukuba pantashi mumilongo mukucita demonstration, aba kristiani abafwile baba basolwesolwe mukufwaya ukuti ifitu fyanguke, ifintu fiwameko. Umusango was a demonstration or march past musango wakulanga ukuti kufwile ukuba ukucinja mukupwisha ubucushi wabantu bonse. [Christians must be in the forefront to picket, to protest, demanding change, that change should be meaningful change to the people in addressing poverty],” he said.
Archbishop Chama said Christians had the right to demonstrate or protest over issues affecting their day-to-day lives.
The prelate said Christians may protest against injustices, lack of human dignity, and whenever they felt oppressed as citizens.
Archbishop Chama explained that every time citizens felt decision makers were trampling on their God-given rights, Christians should be in the forefront to demonstrate.
He urged Christians to be in the forefront of driving the change people want.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Chama urged young people who attended the 2013 World Youth Day in Brazil to recall that the late Pope Francis encouraged them to take the lead as opposed to depending on others to fight for a change on their behalf.
“Ngamuleibukisha ba shikofu ku Brazil balimwebele ukuya mumisebo ukwabula ukulekela bambi balemilwishisha ukucinja ifintu pantu imwe mwakatwa ubwamailo muminwe yenu. (If you can remember for some of you who attended youth celebrations, Pope Francis encouraged you to protest, demonstrate, and not to let others fight for you, as the future is in your hands,) he said.
Archbishop Chama said Pope Francis did not encourage lawlessness, where people start beating, destroying property, and other criminal behaviour.
“Talemweba imwe ukuya mumisebo namusenda amabwe, iyo, talemweba imwe ukuya mumisebo namusenda bapanga, namanaifi, iyo, atemwamuleya muletobaula amamotoka yabene, nefipefyabene iyo, olo umuntu ulionse mwasanga mumisebo mwauma iyo, tefyo alemweba ukucita. [He never told you to go and destroy things, he never told you to beat people, he never told you to carry stones or weapons],”he said.
Archbishop Chama said the demonstration should be done only in a sober manner, respecting other people’s rights and property.
He said the Oasis Forum was not inviting people to go to the streets to cause trouble, but to march peacefully to bring to public attention their concerns about the Constitution.
Archbishop Chama appealed to the security wings, particularly the Zambia Police Service, to provide security to people who would be marching under the umbrella of the Oasis Forum.
“The protesters will not disturb the peace nor ignite troubles. The police are not to treat the marchers as enemies of the state,” he said.
Archbishop Chama said enemies of the State were those oppressing others.
“…people perpetrating injustice, those embezzling public wealth which they are converting to personal riches, as well as those who don’t only neglect the poor, but also subjugate them to oppressive living conditions. These are the enemies of Zambia the police are supposed to fight,” said Archbishop Chama.
