ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 320 - 15/03/1997

Zambia

Church and State

by Patu Mwanza, Zambia, January 1997

THEME = CHURCHES

INTRODUCTION

Just a few months ago, Zambians were confused as to where President Frederick Chiluba's government was taking the country. A few days after the 18 November elections, people, especially those dealing with church affairs, became more confused than ever

What's been going on? First of all, the establishment of a church desk at State House, to be manned by former deputy minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Rev. Peter Chintala.

"Church Desk"

The establishment of this desk has placed the Church in Zambia in disarray, as many religious leaders see it as one way by which government is trying to win church support. Some fear that this move will divide the Church in the country. Others think the desk will only favour Pentecostal, as Chiluba is a born-again- Christian, known to have given fellow born-again-Christians free access to State House in the last five years. The fear has also permeated opposition parties, who now think the desk will be used to politicise the Church in the country. They believe President Chiluba was ill-advised to create the desk, because the country already has church bodies such as the Christian Council of Zambia, the Zambia Episcopal Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, which could be consulted on matters affecting State-Church relations. What is more worrying, is the role which the church desk is expected to play. At the time of writing, no specific terms of reference have been made public - instead, a consultative meeting with Church leaders, was called by Rev. Chintala before Christmas 1996. This was a follow-up to Rev Chintala's unpublicised introductory meeting with Church leaders in Lusaka. The meeting, intended to discuss the functions of the desk, was held at Gospel Outreach Fellowship Centre, a Church whose leader, Rev. Helmet Reuter, is believed to be one of a number of clergymen close to Chiluba. Just before Rev Chintala's appointment, a Church of God superintendent for Africa central region, Archbishop John Mambo, revealed that some clergymen who went to State House for a cup of tea with Chiluba, have become State informers. They sneak out in the evening to brief Chiluba about the thinking of other church leaders.

Church institutions

Archbishop Mambo is among many churchmen who attacked the "honorary ordination" of President Chiluba, by the Pastors Fellowship in Zambia. He described the ordination as "an insult to the Church in Zambia". He said the idea of ordaining President Chiluba was "tampering with the institutions of the Church", as there were procedures to follow before anyone can be ordained into the ministry. "Once you remove such procedures, you are creating problems. When we get excited in dishing out theological doctorates to people who do not deserve them, then we have reached a level where we have forgotten that God is supreme. We appreciate what President Chiluba is doing for the Church, but he is not one of us, although he is answerable to all citizens", says Archbishop Mambo. He says that to accord President Chiluba a special place in the Church was "disappointing and unheard of", and he called on Churches not to hurry in giving out honorary doctorates to Chiluba.

Solidarity march

The Archbishop's sentiments were followed by yet another surprise, when a solidarity march was organised by people, who called themselves "concerned citizens", but later turned out to be leaders and members of the born-again-Christian Churches. One of the church leaders who addressed the solidarity marchers, Rev.Ernest Chelelwa, ministers in a church to which the country's Vice President, General Godfrey Miyanda belongs to. Rev Gedion Simwinga of the Door of Hope Church in Lusaka, says that although he does not know what the church desk will do, it was a good idea to create it, because the Church has failed to bring many issues to the attention of the government, and this could be a way making such matters known. He says the Church has been crying out for a long time, over issues of Value Added Tax (VAT). Even gifts coming from abroad have been subjected to tax, when in most cases, they are meant to help the poor in the country. The way things are going, with church leaders singing the praises of the ruling party, the Chiluba government appears to have managed to put the Church in its pocket. Unless the Church in Zambia is united, it will be difficult for it to attain the unity and the freedom it needs. The Spirit of God may be hovering over Zambia, but if recent events continue, the Spirit is likely to fly away and leave the country in a crisis.

END

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PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement