More join forces to call out government on handling of political, economic issues (video)

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has urged the government to be responsive rather than defensive concerning political and economic issues raised by different bodies in the country.

CCZ General Secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya, through the Council, condemned the redeployment of Chief Registrar of Societies, Thandiwe Phiri Mhende.

Chikoye stated that the office searches and police callouts to the case demands more questions than can be answered.

He urged the government to uphold the rule of law and walk the talk.

“We cannot talk about development if we will say one thing and do the complete opposite,” Chikoye said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He further advised political parties to prioritize the well being of their constituencies and act with integrity and follow the rule of law as prescribed by the Zambian constitution.

“The political field should not be muddy, less it will be suffocated and make the country ungovernable,” he said.

Chikoye noted the CCZ concerns around farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) that was accompanied by farmer’s complaints of inadequate inputs and in some cases forced to share these resources.

“CCZ is also worried about the selective way the fight against corruption is being undertaken. We demand that all citizens should be treated fairly and that no one should be above the law,” he said.

The Council further advised the government to desist from using the Police Service to fight political battles.

It described the conduct of the police as it pertains to Sean Tembo, Fred M’membe, Given Lubinda and Raphael Nakachinda, among other political parties as uncalled for.

He expressed CCZ solidarity with the statements by the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), and Lawyers Association of Zambia (LAZ) that have equally spoken to matters of public interest.

“Our call is that the government should pay attention and take hid of the advice rather than being defensive,” he stated.

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