President Levy Mwanawasa has directed Local Government and Housing Minister, Sylvia Masebo, to exempt the church, schools and clinics from paying rates in appreciation of the great contribution the church is making in augmenting government effortf of improving the economic welfare of the people.
President Mwanawasa has further directed, Ms Masebo to favourably consider the
church’s request for rate exemption for specific educational youths skills
institutions and other social institutions because the church was serving people on
behalf of government.
He said without the church’s valuable contribution, government alone would not have
achieved as much as it has done, citing health institutions run by the church among
them; St Francis and Mumbezhi in Solwezi, Chinyingi in Zambezi and Ntambu in
Mwinilunga which, he said are because they are located in places where government
health institutions were not easily accessible.
Mr Mwanawasa commended the church for its efforts in fighting and mitigating the
effects of HIV/AIDS through home based care and the orphans and vulnerable children
programmes that have provided love, care and support.
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He said without such interventions many children would have dropped out of school,
hence urged the church and government to continue working together for the benefit
of people of Zambia.
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President Mwanawasa said this in Solwezi today during the consecration and
installation of Reverend Fr. Alick Banda as new Bishop of Solwezi Diocese by
Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi to succeed
Bishop Noel Charles O’Regan who was transferred to Ndola Diocese in September 2004.
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Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa said government was worried at the high levels of
illiteracy in North-Western Province and as such it did not hesitate to surrender St
Francis in Solwezi, St Kizito in Mwinilunga, Chiwezi in Kabompo and Chinyingi basic
schools in Zambezi to the church when it requested.
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He also said while government has taken note of the position of the church in the
constitution making, it was committed to ensure that the people of Zambia are given
a people-driven constitution that will stand the test of time.
He said government’s role was to give advice and direction on the process and its
logistics which he said required proper planning and careful attention to deal in
order to avoid costly mistakes.
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Mr Mwanawasa further, reiterated government’s commitment to have all districts in
the province connected to the national grid, saying currently government was looking
at the possibility of working together with missionaries at Kaleni so that
Mwinilunga district could benefit from the Zengamina hydro-power station
commissioned two weeks ago at Kaleni in Mwinilunga.
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Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia Episcopal Conference Chairperson, Arch Bishop
Telesphore Mpundu commended President Mwanawasa for expressing government’s
commitment in Working with the church in building peace and unity in the country.
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And Archbishop Nicola Girasoli urged newly installed Bishop of Solwezi Diocese,
Alick Banda to promote unity among the clergy and others through reconciliation and
dialogue.
Now Chuchu considers himself to have become the law!
The sensible thing for him would have been to move a motion in parliament which would have made this a law. Now what we have is a presidential directive which holds no water in law, come change of president & govt, this directive could be binned without too much fuss & we would be back to square one. What he is trying to do( & i very much appreciate his sentiments) is to try & score points – am sure many will criticise me for this comment , but he leaves himself open to such criticism, becoz if he is really serious, this should be a motion in parliament rather than a presidential decree which if anything will only be temporal in law – he ought to know that!!
#1, Bauze, actually the law is already in place – the Rating Act of 1997. What the church should have done is to apply to the relevant local authority for a rebate on its properties giving reasons why. I’d rather the President mentioned this to give legality to it all to avoid misunderstandings. I also think that this coming from the most ‘powerful’ man in the country, it will un-necessarily put too much pressure on Masebo and the local authorities. The president should also have been mindful that in some of the small local authorities, the only properties from which they can raise rates are those owned by churches – because that’s all there is in their entire jurisdictions! So if GRZ is going to strangle them from this front, then the set off should be that GRN should up the grants-in-lieu side, or else these small outfits will continue to drown!
#1&2 No its now at challenge for Masebo inform the president what is to be done. This where yiou see real leaders who are not passengers. Mr. president however yo dont remove taxes but instead they must be reduced because you cannot tell how the economy will be in 2yrs time.So best is to reduce the taxes so that churches can channel that money in the said ventures.
Well soon we shall again see the mashrooming of new churchs may be someone can start one………..
Since the president is a firm believer in the rule of law, I expect that Masebo will rehearse the issue of legality about this directive to him. The Rating Act of 1997 is very clear about what properties are 100% exempt from rates (or zero rated). Places of worship yes, but not schools per se. If the Catholics are keen on it, they could actually claim under this provision, although it will be difficult to prove that every building on their properties is a place of worship. But then they could perhaps consider the option of leasing out to the classroom mushrooming churches, at that!
Bauze i concur with you, chuchu will never stop amusing me
True.now let us see how masebo will deal with this one.another ka exemption order under the rates act.wc will be repealed later. And what happened 2 consultative process with citizens. Is it only the church that trIes 2 improve pipos welfare.or is it part of tryin 2 win the electorate 4 2011 coz the majority have bn indoctrinated in2 thinkin the church has answers.but u need 2 read the word 2 fulfil ur soul and then use the physical 2 translate ur spiritual fulfilment in2 a reality.u need 2 work hard. God helps those who help themselver.
LPM is providing leadership . Mwisho fwd ever backward never.
Why does mwanawasa want to do this. No!!! the law of the country says that everyone has to pay and please let them pay. Its health for Zambia. Whats wrong with our leader. Why does he want to control even the poor church people. Let them remain committed. With this the ordinary people will work hard and pay their rates if they see the example from the church. The church id here not to be fed but to feed others and teach them how to feed on themselves!!!!!!