Zambian bishops warn political tensions could lead to civil strife

Published: 2005-02-16

LUSAKA, Zambia (CNS) -- Zambia's bishops have warned that political tensions in the southern African country could lead to civil strife. "We are witnessing wrangles within and across political parties mainly based on power struggles between factions," the Zambian bishops' conference said, noting its concern at "the endemic political tension that has become characteristic" of Zambia. "It is our view that this state of affairs is not healthy for our country and has the potential to degenerate into civil strife with grave consequences," the conference said in a mid-February statement after a plenary meeting in Lusaka. Most members of political groups are "looking for credible leadership, and they surely deserve better," the bishops said. "It is sad that, more than a decade after reverting to multiparty politics, we are yet to see stable and policy-driven political parties which Zambians can look up to," they said.

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