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“Withdraw the Constitutional Amendment Bill”, Bishops in Zambia Tell MPs
Bishops in the Southern Africa nation of Zambia have called on the country’s Members of Parliament (MPs) to consider withdrawing the Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2019 also known as Bill 10 from the floor of the House saying it does not reflect the constitutional desires of a majority of the citizens.
Pope Francis’ Representative in Zambia Donates COVID-19 Equipment to Three Hospitals
In a bid to support the efforts undertaken by Catholic Church leaders in Zambia in the fight against COVID-19, the representative of Pope Francis in the Southern Africa nation has donated three ventilators and N95 as well as surgical masks to benefit three hospitals, saying the donation was part of the Holy Father’s initiative to help “all the African countries.” The Apostolic Nuncio in the country, Archbishop Giafranco Gallone delivered the items to Bishop Moses Hamungole on behalf of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) on Monday, May 25. “I know that this is a small gesture in this moment, but the Holy Father is helping all the African countries (by) sending the same contribution,” Archbishop Gallone has been quoted as saying during the handing over ceremony at ZCCB Secretariat in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. The Italian Prelate who represents Pope Francis in neighboring Malawi as well added in reference to the Holy Father, “It is his concern as a good father towards those that are suffering and do not have the necessary means to be able to cure themselves.”. The three ventilators will be used at Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital, Lusaka, Chilonga Mission Hospital in Muchinga province, northeast Zambia and St. Dominics' Mission Hospital in the Copperbelt province, south of the country. The three hospitals, the Apostolic Nuncio noted, “are without proper instruments to help COVID-19 patients.” Zambia has recorded at least 920 cases, 336 recoveries and seven related deaths. Appreciating the donation from the Holy Father, Sr. Elizabeth Njovu from St. Dominics’ Mission Hospital noted that the ventilators “will ultimately save lives, make their mission work easy, and offer excellent response services in the three facilities.” “The health sector, being at the frontline in the fight against the scourge has faced the most impact mainly because the fight has taken a colossal amount of resources, which would have been allocated evenly to fights of other health issues,” Sr. Njovu said. During the handing over ceremony, the Apostolic Nuncio revealed that Pope Francis is also concerned about people who have lost jobs in Africa as a result of COVID-19, and who are affected by the looming hunger crisis. “Aided by his collaborators, he (Pope Francis) has great desire to find (the) right ways of implementing charitable interventions for a possible food emergency throughout Africa,” the Nuncio said and added, “We hope that the situation could be mitigated by the aid of the international community.” Reiterating the words of Pope Francis expressing his solidarity with those affected by the pandemic, the 57-year-old Prelate said, “I express my closeness to those who are suffering from COVID-19, to those who are dedicated to their care and to all those who, in any way, are suffering from the pandemic.”
Individual Bishops in Zambia to Make “final decision” on Resuming Public Celebrations
Members of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) have resolved to have individual Local Ordinaries in the Southern African nation make “the final decision” on the resumption of liturgical celebrations in their respective dioceses, including the measures to curb the possible spread of COVID-19.
Church Leaders in Zambia Denounce “media harassment”, Demand Press Freedom
Leaders representing various Church groupings in Zambia have, in a collective statement, “strongly condemned” the violation of press freedom in their country following multiple incidents when those at the helm of the main opposition party have been barred from scheduled radio programs or their programs disrupted midway.
Elected Diocesan Administrator in Zambia Says He Relies "on goodwill, cooperation of all"
The newly elected Diocesan Administrator of Zambia’s Mpika Diocese, Fr. Justin Matepa is looking toward the collaboration of the people of God in his diocese to accomplish the ministry of running the diocese until the Vatican appoints a Local Ordinary, he has told ACI Africa.
Amid COVID-19, “let us support Church’s ministry to poor, vulnerable”: Zambia Bishops
At a time when governments across the globe have been forced to expend their resources in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, Bishops in the southern Africa nation of Zambia are encouraging the people of God in their country to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in their midst rather than expect foreign donations.
Bishop Dies Two Days after Communicating Major Directives on COVID-19 in Zambia
A Catholic Bishop in Zambia has died just two days after he issued a statement with directives on COVID-19, which included the “indefinite closure of all Major Seminaries” in the Southern Africa nation.
Bishops in Zimbabwe Exclude Children, Sick, Elderly from Attending Mass
While there has not been a reported case of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe, Catholic leaders in the country that is situated in Southern Africa have, as a precautionary measure, advised children, the sick, the elderly and other vulnerable groups not to attend public Mass on Sunday, in adherence to measures put in place by the government.
Caritas Internationalis Emergency Programs Helping Alleviate Hunger in Zambia, Zimbabwe
Almost a month after the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that a hunger crisis 'on scale we've not seen before' is looming in Southern Africa with 45 million people in need of urgent food aid, the global confederation of Catholic relief agencies, Caritas Internationalis, is helping, through its emergency programs, alleviate the hunger situation in Zambia and Zimbabwe, two of the most hard-hit countries.
Zambian Bishops Express "deep gratitude" for Apostolic Activities of the Consecrated
On the occasion of the 24th World Day for Consecrated Life marked February 2, the Bishops in Zambia have expressed gratitude for the various apostolates of consecrated persons that make visible the presence of Jesus among the people of God in the Southern Africa nation.
Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe Bishops Lauded by President Lungu for Showing “unity of purpose”
At the opening of the ongoing Sub-regional consultative meeting, the first-ever, that has brought together Catholic Bishops in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Zambian President Edgar Lungu who officially opened the gathering lauded the initiative of the Church leaders saying the convention is in line with the desire to unite the three countries, which have a lot in common.
Zambians in “dire need of help” Due to Prolonged Drought, Bishop Appeals
Following months of unpredictable rainfall and increased temperatures in Southern Africa including Zambia that have led to a drought described as one of the worst in decades, a Church leader in Zambia has appealed for help terming the situation in the landlocked country as serious.
Mandatory Sessions for Priests on Children Safety among Recommendations to Zambia Bishops
Against the backdrop of accusations of child abuse by clerics in a number of countries across the globe resulting in, among other declarations, an “all-out battle” against the abuse of minors by Pope Francis, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has reached out to the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) in a recent meeting that concluded with recommendations, which if realized, the safety of children in the landlocked Southern Africa country will be guaranteed.
