DON’T BE ARROGANT – Bishop Mulandu

DON’T BE ARROGANT

Listen to the Church, civil society, people – Bishop Mulandu

By a Correspondent

MPIKA Catholic Church Bishop Edwin Mulandu has urged government to listen to the Church, civil society organisations and the people of Zambia who have rejected the controversial Bill 7.

In solidarity with the Oasis Forum, Bishop Mulandu said the United Party for National Development (UPND) should stop being arrogant about the Constitution amendment that Zambians have rejected.

“This government must listen to the people, the Church, over this Bill 7. Let the government listen to the voice of the Church and other organisations opposing Bill 7, it is crucial for the country’s well-being,” he said.

Bishop Mulandu made the call during a mass celebrated at Yusufu Catholic Radio Station Friday in Mpika.

The mass was held in solidarity with the Oasis Forum’s prayer rally at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka, which was initially planned as a peaceful protest to State House against Bill 7.

In his homily, Bishop Mulandu said God had the power to soften the hearts of people, praying that President Hakainde Hichilema should heed the Church’s call to withdraw the bill and focus on the pressing needs in the country.

“It would be good for the government to listen to the voice and advice of the Church and many other organisations that are saying ‘no’ to Bill 7 at the moment,” he said.

The Oasis Forum, a consortium of the three Church Mother Bodies, the Zambia Council of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) the Christian Church in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Civil Society Organisations, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and many other actors led the team that met Hichilema at State House Friday to deliver a Bill-7 rejection message.

In its demand to Hichilema for the complete withdrawal from parliament, the illegal Bill 7, the consortium cited concerns about its potential impact on the country’s governance and human rights.

The consortium pushed for a clear road map to integrate an expanded Bill of Rights into the Constitution.