Zambian bishops defend their boycott of constitutional conference

Published: 2007-10-29

LUSAKA, Zambia (CNS) -- Zambia's bishop have defended their boycott of the government-appointed National Constitutional Conference, saying it will be unable to deliver a legitimate and lasting constitution. Before the constitutional conference starts its work, it is imperative that its fundamental flaws are addressed, said the bishops' conference president, Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu of Lusaka, in a statement read to the press Oct. 23 in the capital, Lusaka. "It is regrettable that the debate on the constitution-making process sometimes assumes an anti-church, particularly anti-Catholic rhetoric," Archbishop Mpundu said, noting that "the government has nothing to fear from us because we don't seek political, economic or social power." It is unthinkable that the bishops' conference "would be an agent of fomenting unrest and trouble in the country over the NCC," he said. Without peace, there can be no development in the southern African country, he added. The Catholic Church in Zambia "guards the variety of political persuasions among our faithful, whom we encourage to join parties of their choice," said the archbishop. The bishops have demanded that the National Constitutional Conference Act be amended before they agree to sit in the conference, Archbishop Mpundu said.

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