Title: "In 50 years, Zambia has made remarkable progress", says Catholic leader
Author: Fides
Category: Interfaith Relations
Date: 11/21/2014
Source: Fides Agency News
Source Website: http://www.fides.org/en/news
African Charter Article# 13: Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of their country and to equal access of public services
Summary & Comment: The campaign for the next presidential elections and 50 years of national independence were the subject of the interview with Archbishop Mpundu of Lusaka." we are in the midst of the election campaign because the Constitution establishes that in the event of the death of the Head of State, presidential elections will be held within 90 days " In 50 years, we have achieved a degree of political maturity...how long did it take Europe to develop a democratic system? 200 years?" Every new President has been chosen by election, within the constitution: no coups. JK
"In 50 years, Zambia has made remarkable progress", says President of the Episcopal Conference Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The campaign for the next presidential elections and 50 years of national independence were the subject of the interview His Exc. Mgr. Ignatius Chama, Archbishop of Kasama and President of the Episcopal Conference of Zambia had with Agenzia Fides, who is in Rome for the ad limina visit.
After the untimely death of President Michael Sata Zambia the election of his successor is in full campaign. How is the Country living this moment?
"It is not the first time a President dies while in office in Zambia. It already happened in 2008 with President Levy Mwanawasa (who died in Paris in August of that year after a heart attack while attending the African Union summit in Sharm el Sheikh). So it is an experience we have already faced. Now we are in the midst of the election campaign because the Constitution establishes that in the event of the death of the Head of State, presidential elections will be held within 90 days of his death. In this stage, the various political parties are struggling to choose their candidates".
What in your opinion is the best result obtained from your Country in these 50 years of independence?
"We experienced periods of political turbulence, fortunately without tragic consequences such as civil wars or similar events. We have reached a sufficient degree of political maturity. This does not mean that we have completely reached it, we are still developing it. But I wonder: how long did it take Europe to develop a democratic system? 200 years? 250 years? We are only 50 years old and we are not behaving badly; we have no complexes about our 'democratic credentials' or how to do election campaigns and so on".
In the last 50 years how has the Church in Zambia, born out of missionary work, evolved?
"The Church is missionary by nature. We have reached a critical point where the work of the Church is in the hands of the local faithful. Even the history of the Church in Zambia, just over 100 years, is a very short period. We feel a responsibility to be part of the universal Church and to participate in the Missio ad Gentes. We have in this regard religious congregations working in other African Countries and outside the continent". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2014)
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