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ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE
Edition: #20 6 June 1997
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A fortnightly update of news from Zambia
ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is written by Zambian journalists in Zambia and brings you the news from their point of view. It is assembled and edited by South Africa Contact, the former anti-apartheid movement in Denmark, publishers of i'Afrika, a quarterly magazine concentrating on Southern Africa.
ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE joins MALAWI NEWS ONLINE and TANZANIA NEWS ONLINE in providing up to date news from our established network of journalists in Southern Africa. These newsletters will be followed, in the very near future, by individual news updates from other countries in the region.
ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is brought to you through a co-operation between South Africa Contact and Inform, Denmark's leading alternative information network.
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In this edition:
Feature:
CHRISTIANS FEAR GROWTH OF SATANISM IN ZAMBIA
Stories:
1. INTER-PARTY CONFLICTS INCREASE
2. SWEDEN DEMANDS POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN EXCHANGE FOR AID
3. INQUIRY INTO UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA PROBLEMS REVEALS ALLEGED "SHADY" DEALS
4.a WORKERS' UNIONS DEMAND PROMPT PAYMENT OF SALARIES
4.b LIQUIDATED BANK WORKERS PROTEST
5.a GOVERNMENT NOT TO INTERFERE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION
5.b EASTERN PROVINCE APPEALS FOR FOOD AID
6. ZAMBIANS FACE INCREASE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFFS
7. CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY CONTINUE
8. FIFA INTERVENES IN SUSPENSION OF FAZ PRESIDENT
Feature: CHRISTIANS FEAR GROWTH OF SATANISM IN ZAMBIA
When President Chiluba endorsed Zambia as a Christian nation soon after the MMD came to power in 1991, some people voiced their opposition to such a declaration. Soon, however, the criticism died out and the Christian community in Zambia went full throttle in its efforts to spreads the faith. Recent developments in the country, however, point to the Christians facing a new form of resistance - Satanism.
Early this year, a couple of youths in the densely populated province of the Copperbelt claimed that a group of Satanists was operating under-ground and recruiting members at a rate that called for concern. They said they had been part of the group but decided to pull out of it because they realised that devil worshipping was wrong. No one paid much attention to the two youths' revelation but three months on, another confession was made by another young woman in Lusaka who disclosed that faith in Satan was growing in the capital and that the Satanists were on an aggressive campaign to outwit the spread of Christianity.
More revelations as to the existence of devil-worship have been made over recent weeks and now Christians are beginning to take the issue more seriously, calling for concerted efforts to counter Satanism. Some of those who have broken away from the Satanist groups contend that there is a deliberate plan by the Satanists to take over the country by infiltrating various key organisations, business, the judiciary, the political field and even the church.
"This message first came in February," says Christian Unity Ministries (CUMI), national secretary Timothy Situmbeko of the alleged plot by Satanists to take over Zambia and destroy Christian institutions in Zambia. "We hesitated to tell the people about it, but continued to pray. Then early this month it was repeated." He added that there had been at least one Satanist planted in some of the many born-again churches in an effort to derail the Christian faith and cause divisions.
Africa Church of God leader, Bishop John Mambo agrees that there is a plot to destroy Christianity in Zambia. He contends that many cults have been formed in the disguise of churches and already deep divisions are beginning to show among the Christians.
Police spokesman Standwell Lungu says that there is no law that would bar Satanists from practising their faith, but the concern of many Christians is that the devil's faith is said to include human sacrifices. Some reformed devil worshipers have claimed that the drinking of human blood is part of a major ritual that Satanists have to practice. For now, however, no one has come out in the open yet to confess that he or she practices Satanism. And those that claim to have belonged to the faith have not quite been able to expose those still practising the faith. For many Christians, however, this is not an assurance that Satanism is not a serious threat.
"Christians must be ready for attacks from the devil," Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General, Father Ignatius Mwebe says. "The Church as a body has to fight the prince of darkness. We are his first target. Goodness is always the target of evil." Bishop Mambo also said that the mushrooming of cults was getting out of hand he wanted government to scrutinise all the churches to prevent church wars that could destroy Christianity in the country. Recent months has seen an increased number of divisions in various churches, resulting in splinter groups forming up to follow their own methods of prayer. Bishop Mambo fears that if such divisions were allowed to continue, cults could emerge and Christianity could become vulnerable to devil worshipers.
The Satanists are said to be very selective in their recruitment of members. According to a young woman who recently broke away from the devil's faith, some Satanists operate from Christian churches from which they recruit their members. She said that those in social or financial problems were often the main targets for recruitment.
Some political parties too are concerned about the increased reports of Satanism. The National Democratic Party (NDP) recently stated that the MMD government was not doing enough to curb the spread of Satanism. NDP Copperbelt Province chairman Isaac Chileshe said that government should investigate increasing reports of Satanism taking root in Zambia. The party contends that the seeds of Satanism were being planted by foreigners and it demands that the government deports those involved.
Police spokesman Lungu says action against Satanists can only be taken if there is evidence that some of their practices were, by Zambian laws, illegal. He said that investigations had been instituted on some of the charges made by reformed Satanists but that no evidence had yet come to light on which the police could base a prosecution.
For some Christians, the solution to curb the spread of Satanism is in prayer. The Baptist Church in Lusaka, for instance, has embarked on special prayers for those who may have drifted into Satanism. It is hoped that the power of prayer will help redirect them to Christianity. But with the Zambian constitution categorical that Zambia would be tolerant of other religions, there is little much else Christians can do but pray that the Christian faith will overshadow Satanism.
Stories: 1. INTER-PARTY CONFLICTS INCREASE
As some parties called for dialogue between the political parties, conflicts within some of these parties have increased in recent weeks. Most hit by the internal squabbling are the ruling MMD and the Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC).
In the MMD, several middle-rank members have been suspended on charges of defying a ban on campaigning for the party presidency. The party national secretary, Michael Sata, recently undertook a tour of Luapula Province, President Chiluba's home region, where some party members charged that a cabinet minister had been campaigning in the area for the presidential elections due in the year 2001. Shortly after his trip, provincial party leaders announced the suspension of the provincial minister Norman Chibamba and a few other leaders from the party for allegedly disorganising the party. The next day, Sata nullified the suspensions and instead suspended the leaders who endorsed the suspension of Chibamba.
In the ZDC, internal wranglings have increased following the suspension of three senior members accused of going against collective responsibility. Party vice-presidents Kasuka Mutukwa (for policy), and Susan Jere (for gender), along with treasurer, Dante Saunders, were suspended after they disagreed with party president Dean Mung'omba's call to remove the MMD government "by whatever means". Several other party members have condemned the call and some of them have since resigned from the party. The three leaders have rejected their suspensions and have instead called for a national party convention at which party differences could be resolved.
2. SWEDEN DEMANDS POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN EXCHANGE FOR AID
Sweden says that it will give balance of payment aid to Zambia only if political dialogue between political parties is effected.
Sweden's ambassador to Zambia, Kristina Svensen, said that in the absence of political dialogue in the country, Sweden cannot support the country with aid because economic development must involve all political forces.
3. INQUIRY INTO UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA PROBLEMS REVEALS ALLEGED "SHADY" DEALS
An on-going Commission of Inquiry into the problems at the University of Zambia (UNZA), and the Copperbelt University (CBU), has brought to the fore accusations of "shady" deals by the university authorities and a deputy minister.
A head of department at UNZA charged that deputy health minister Professor Nkandu Luo was lecturing at the institution contrary to a recently effected code of conduct that bars political leaders from lecturing at the university. Another witness charged that UNZA had 48 bank accounts, some of which were allegedly used for siphoning money out of the institution.
4.a WORKERS' UNIONS DEMAND PROMPT PAYMENT OF SALARIES
Civil servants have called on the government to honour its collective agreement obligation of paying the public service workers on time to avert strikes and to boost production. The call was made after a work stoppage by about 200 general workers at Zambia's major hospital, the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. The workers abandoned work for two days before being persuaded to return to their tasks by union leaders. They were protesting a delay in being paid their salaries.
Some teachers around the country have also been threatening to stop work because of a delay in paying them their salaries. Government has promised that the money will soon be available. But some teachers have vowed to boycott this year's supervising of examinations and the marking of examination papers because government has in the past failed to honour its promise to pay them on time. Government recently awarded public service workers a salary increase of K40,000 (about US$35) and new conditions of service.
4.b LIQUIDATED BANK WORKERS PROTEST
Scores of former workers of the liquidated Lima Bank, a lending institution for farmers, recently staged a protest at the Ministry of Agriculture to demand payment of their terminal benefits.
The workers, who were joined by their wives and children., demanded that they be paid their dues promptly because they and their families have been starving since the firm was closed about a month ago.
5. a - GOVERNMENT NOT TO INTERFERE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION
Government has announced that it will not interfere or take part in the production and supply of maize, Zambia's staple food, during the 1997/98 farming season. And, despite a forecast that the country could have a deficit of its annual requirement of maize, government will not restrict the exportation of the grain.
The decision is in line with the government policy of letting market forces determine prices and distribution of any farm produce. However, some observers, including those in the farming community, say that government's pull out of the agriculture sector should have been more gradual and that they now fear that because of the forecast shortage, prices of the commodity could rise beyond the reach of many Zambians.
5.b EASTERN PROVINCE APPEALS FOR FOOD AID
The Paramount Chief of the Eastern Province has requested an immediate supply of relief food to the region because he said people in the area are starving. Paramount Chief Mpezeni said that some people were leaving the area because they had been unable to grow enough food to last them until the next farming season. He attributed the food deficit to an inadequate supply of seed and fertiliser. The province usually has a food surplus.
In some other parts of the province, farmers have appealed to government to repair roads and bridges that were washed away by rains for them to be able to deliver their produce to markets. Works and Supply deputy minister, Celestino Chibamba, has promised to have the bridges repaired.
6. ZAMBIANS FACE INCREASE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFFS
Electricity consumers could soon be paying more for the commodity, following Energy Minister Suresh Desai's advice that supply cannot be increased sufficiently unless more income is generated through increased tariffs. The veiled proposal to the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) could, however, trigger renewed opposition from consumers, many of whom already contend that the current tariffs are too high.
The minister's advice follows a warning by Zesco's consumer relations manager Louis Changula that Zambia risked becoming deficient in electricity by the year 2001 unless new energy generating stations are constructed.
7. CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY CONTINUE
The pressure on government to abolish the death penalty continues to grow with an added voice coming from a seminar recently held by the Zambia Prison Fellowship Association. Participants at the seminar resolved that government should discontinue the death penalty and have life-imprisonment as the maximum penalty.
The participants noted that with Zambia being declared a Christian nation soon after the MMD came into power in 1991, it was only logical that the death penalty too be abolished. Eight condemned prisoners have been executed by hanging since 1991.
8. FIFA INTERVENES IN SUSPENSION OF FAZ PRESIDENT
The world soccer governing body, FIFA, forced government to lift a suspension imposed on the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Michael Chiti. The FAZ leader was suspended for three months by the National Sports Council of Zambia for insubordination after he defied a ministerial directive that the association holds executive committee elections by June 18.
The ban was, however, lifted after FIFA noted that a suspension imposed by a body outside the soccer governing body could not be recognised and warned Zambia of stern action if the decision was not rescinded.
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From: AfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk (Africa_news Network) Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 15:44:42 +0200 Subject: ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE Message-ID: <1262350302.32426586@inform-bbs.dk>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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