BISHOP MASUPA HAPPY WITH FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

By Lumbiwe Mwanza

THE Government has commendably maintained the right to worship and choice of religion, says Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) President David Masupa.

Bishop Masupa said despite earlier fears of disorder after the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs was scrapped off, the Government had done a good job in safeguarding fundamental human rights of freedom of worship and religion.

He told The Scoop that the department of the National Guidance and Religious Affairs under the Ministry of the Vice President had been well managed and sustained and had continued to portray Zambian as a Christian nation while embracing other religions.

“Because the department is under the office of the Vice President, we, as church mother bodies, see a lot of undertaking in Christianity activities and there is no disturbance and the freedom of religion and worship is more exercised than ever before,” Bishop Masupa said.

He said that the actualization of Zambia as a Christian nation had been well implemented stating the need for the umbrella church mother bodies to continue helping Christians to abide by various Christianity values.

He affirmed the commitment from the church mother bodies saying they will continue providing spiritual guidance and counseling to leaders.

He urged the Government to sustain a strong political will that will concretize the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.

He said the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation was still meaningful despite having other religions in the country and other issues such as corruption and indecent behavior by some youths.

“The high level of immorality by youths which include sexual activities, high levels of HIV/AIDS, beer drinking among others are contrary to Zambia being a Christian nation as well as norms of Christianity,” he said.