World News
US aid to Zambia demonstrates biblical charity, says church official
Published: May 11, 2012
LUSAKA, Zambia, (CNS) -- The United States government's $355 million grant to reduce poverty in Zambia is a biblical act of charity, a Catholic Church official said. The grant from the Millennium Challenge Corp., an independent foreign aid agency created by the U.S. Congress in 2004, adheres to Jesus' directive that "those with more should give some of what they have to those with none," explained Father Paul Samasumo, spokesman for the Zambia Episcopal Conference. The Zambian government and officials from the U.S. agency signed off on documents clearing the way for the transfer of funds for water and sanitation projects in the Zambian capital of Lusaka May 10. "It's good when we have the richer nations think about the poor nations. It's biblical and according to what the Lord commands all of us to do," Father Samasumo said. The grant is the largest single investment to improve the country's water system since Zambia attained independence in 1964. Daniel Yohannes, CEO of Millennium Challenge Corp., said at the signing ceremony that the investment in the southern Africa nation will benefit more than 1 million Zambians by improving their health and economic productivity and decreasing the spread of water-borne diseases.
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