Catholic bishop calls for collaboration between traditional leaders, church and govt

The Catholic Church in Luapula Province has called for more collaboration between traditional leaders, the church and government in an effort to develop Zambia and improve the living conditions of the people.

Bishop Patrick Chisanga of the Catholic Diocese of Mansa, said the goal of the Church, traditional leaders and government was to improve the living conditions of the people

Chisanga said this during a mass at St Luke’s Catholic Parish Centre at Milai in Chipili District of Luapula Province on Sunday.

“The role of the church leaders is to speak for the people and engage the government on their behalf on matters of development, I am able to do it for the people effectively,” he said.

During the same mass, Chisanga baptized 26 congregants, confirmed 46, and blessed 5 marriages.

The celebration was attended by ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) National Chairperson for Youth and Sports, Kennedy N’gona and Frank Bwalya, who is Director General of the party Media under the Presidential Support Programme.

Speaking after the celebration, Bwalya said those trying to create enmity between the church and the UPND were engaging in a futile undertaking.

“Both the ruling party and the church understand the value of working together for the benefit of the people,” he stated.

Bwalya said if the UPND fails to cultivate a good relationship with the Church or vice versa, it’s the people that would lose out.

He noted that none of the two would like to disappoint the people on that score.

“So we expect both sides to continue doing everything possible to sustain good relations,” Bwalya said.

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