A Pastoral Solidarity Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Zambia (6th February, 2011)

HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

A call for peace and reconciliation in Western Province

A Pastoral Solidarity Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Zambia

(6^th February, 2011)

“Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).

1.     Introduction

To all Catholics and peace loving Zambians, especially those in Western Province.

We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus!

We, your Bishops, have a God-given mandate to be the voice of conscience to the nation.  We therefore feel obliged to cordially offer our solidarity to the people in Western Province. We also wish to exercise our prophetic role by calling for a spirit of unity, justice, peace and reconciliation in our beloved country but especially in the Western Province. It is also in this spirit of goodwill that we took it upon ourselves, as Catholic Bishops to seek audience with the Republican President and to present to him some of our concerns in the wake of the disturbances in the Western Province.

2.      Instability in the Western Province

In recent months, the country has witnessed the unfortunate unfolding of events in Western Province which culminated in violence on Friday 14^th January 2011. Subsequent to this violence, two lives have been lost and several people injured.  To date, some alleged activists have been arrested and incarcerated in police cells on charges of treason. The instability has also caused fear and uncertainty among the multi ethnic society of Western Province which, like the rest of Zambia, has lived in peace and tranquillity since our political independence in 1964. We offer our condolences and deep sympathy to the families that lost their beloved relatives in the violence. We also wish quick recovery to those who were injured. Our hearts also go out to families who may be facing difficulties at the moment as a result of their bread winners being away in prison.

3.      Position of Catholic Bishops in Zambia

Our position as Catholic Bishops in Zambia is not to apportion blame on any party but to appeal to all: The Government, the people of Western Province, the Barotse Royal Establishment and the organised activist groups to come together and find a lasting solution to the dangerous situation that has evolved in Western Province. It is our belief that none of the parties involved cherishes needless loss of life or an environment where people live in fear and uncertainty.

4.      Way forward

All stakeholders to this matter must demonstrate their commitment to peace by refraining from violence, intimidation or use of force as a means of achieving their objectives. Violence and intimidation produces no winners in resolving problems. It just hardens the hearts of the victims to equally defend their position by the same means and in the end a vicious circle of hatred, violence and intimidation is perpetrated. We strongly feel that all parties to this matter must embrace the spirit of dialogue as a way of dealing with the issues.

4.1.             The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE)

It is our hope that the Barotse Royal Establishment will help provide leadership and hope to the people of Western Province. We recognise the efforts towards dialogue made by the BRE before January 14^th but the aftermath of this day has brought in new insights on how much more still needs to be done.

4.2.            The Activist Groups

We appeal to the activist groups, particularly the Linyungandambo, Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM), Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland (MoReBa) and Barotse Patriotic Front (BPF) to commit themselves to peaceful means of advocating for their demands.  It is our belief that their right to organise and associate must be protected but this also entails on them a duty to respect the rights of others who may not belong to these groupings or may have different views on the subject at hand.

4.3.            Government

We recognise the duty of Government to maintain law and order and to protect life and property. This duty should however be exercised with due diligence. Good judgement of what State action can result into is extremely necessary. There are concerns around the heavy presence of armed police in Mongu before and after the incidents of 14^th January. These concerns include the use of live bullets on the actual day which resulted in deaths and gunshot injuries. We have expressed these concerns to the Head of State and it is our hope that such extreme actions will not be used again to manage public order not only in Western Province but in any other part of our country. Insistence on negotiation and dialogue should always be the key factor.

4.4.            Incarcerated Activists

In order to foster dialogue and normalise the situation in Western Province, we have appealed to the Republican President to use his prerogative to release those that are incarcerated in prison over this case, some of whom are facing treason charges. In the interim, the suspects in custody must be accorded their rights as provided for in our constitution and other related legislation.

4.5.            The Barotseland Agreement of 1964

We are not experts in law but we believe that the intentions of our founding fathers and mothers in negotiating and signing this agreement were to foster unity among all people of Zambia and to create the unitary state of Zambia. It is our hope and prayer that this can still be same spirit motivating all parties to the discourse on the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. Time has perhaps come that this matter be brought to an amicable conclusion. Again we emphasise that dialogue be encouraged to analyse what issues are outstanding in the implementation of the agreement and a lasting solution agreed within the context of our modern times.

4.6.            A cry for development

It is our humble view that at the bottom of all the unrest in the Western Province is a perception – real or imagined - that the Province is marginalised in matters of development. We acknowledge that the Western Province is the poorest province in the whole of Zambia. We therefore call on Government to not only bring about meaningful development to the Western Province but also manage perceptions that the Province is being sidelined when it comes to matters of development. While we acknowledge efforts by Government to bring about development in Western Province, clearly much more still needs to be done.

4.7.            Give hope to the young people of Western Province

To our young people in the whole country and particularly those in Western Province, we feel for you and we understand that the challenges you face today can be a real source of losing hope. We appeal to you to use your youthfulness to exercise resilience even as you rightly continue to demand for a better place in our society. We also call upon all stakeholders from the Government, Church, NGOs, and donors, to do all they can to give hope to the young people.

5.     Need for Peace, Healing and Reconciliation

As Zambians, we must thank God for the relative peace we have enjoyed since Independence. However, each one of us has a duty to contribute to the sustenance of that peace, healing and reconciliation by behaving in a responsible way, respectful of other people and their human rights. Government too must endeavour to be true custodians of peoples’ liberties in all their actions. In this vein, we appeal to Government to consider re-opening Radio Lyambai and allow it to operate. It is when we build ourselves as a society committed to mutual respect that we can ever hope for sustainable peace.

6.     Conclusion

As Catholic Bishops, we are guided by the spirit of the Second African Synod whose theme focused on Reconciliation, Justice, Peace and unity. Like the Synod Fathers’ hope for Africa, we pray and hope for a “New Pentecost” in Western Province where all parties will be reconciled and once again live in harmony. This will not however come by chance; there will be need for all parties to work towards this reconciliation.

In a special way, we cordially offer our solidarity to the Church in Western Province and as we are all called by our faith, let them be real instruments of peace. Our diocesan groupings, Deaneries, Parishes and Small Christian Communities must use every opportunity available to preach, promote and to be witnesses of peace and unity.

To all Zambians, we say, “... Be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).

Signed by

§  His Eminence, Medardo Cardinal Joseph Mazombwe

§  Rt. Rev. George Cosmas Zumaile Lungu –Bishop of Chipata and ZEC President

§  Rt. Rev. Ignatius Chama – Bishop of Mpika and ZEC Vice President

§  Most Rev. Telesphore Mpundu – Archbishop of Lusaka

§  Rt. Rev. Raymond Mpezele – Bishop of Livingstone

§  Rt. Rev. Paul Duffy, OMI – Bishop of Mongu

§  Rt. Rev. Emilio Patriarca – Bishop of Monze

§  Rt. Rev. Alick Banda – Bishop of Ndola

§  Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde – Bishop of Solwezi

§  Mons. Ignatius Mwebe – Apostolic Administrator of Kasama

§  Mons. Michael Merizzi, M.Afr. – Apostolic Administrator of Mansa

§  Most Rev. James Spaita – Bishop Emeritus of Kasama

§  Rt. Rev. Aaron Chisha – Bishop Emeritus of Mansa

§  Rt. Rev. Noel O’Regan, SMA – Bishop Emeritus of Ndola