The Association of Catholic Parliamentarians has said that it is regrettable that some views expressed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the statement on amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 were a product of misinformation and appealed to the Conference of Catholic Bishops to give correct information on Bill 10 and provide the necessary leadership.
Association Chairperson Prof. Luo said that such misinformation, if not properly handled, has the capacity to divide a country celebrated to be peaceful.
Professor Luo said that it was expected that the Catholic Bishops would consult the catholic Parliamentarians as Members of Parliament to explain Bill 10 clearly before they issued any statement.
Professor Luo said that Bill 10 has been misunderstood because most people do not take time to read and understand the bill but base their contributions from what someone wrote or said on the bill.
Professor LUO has encouraged Zambians to take time to read and understand the bill to ensure that they make informed comments on the bill.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Prof Luo said issues that the government put in Bill 10 were agreed upon by a large community of eminent persons at the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) shunned by the Catholic Bishops.
Besides the resolution made at the NDF, Prof. Luo recalled, the Siavonga declaration by party Secretary-General was also incorporated in Bill 10.
Prof. Luo said that had the Bishops accepted to attend the dialogue forum, their voice could have been incorporated in Bill 10 which the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda presented to Parliament.
Prof. Luo said after the first reading, Bill 10 was subjected to the parliamentary select committee where further scrutiny was made, adding that people from all walks of life made submissions of various issues which they not only agreed but also agreed with the government.
To prove the people that the government means well on the constitution-making process, Prof. Luo suggested all the recommendations except a few were taken on board and the government had all the proposed amendments gazetted for the people to see.
She said that all the recommendations made in the gazette paper are a true copy of what the parliamentary select committee’s recommendations as obtained from the people whose submissions via their representatives.
She said the Association is consoled that some of the recommendations the government proposed in the gazette paper are acknowledged by Bishops.
She said the statement by the bishop does not represent the correct version of the bill and the recommendation.
She said the Catholic Parliamentarians are at pain to understand why the bishops calling for the withdrawal of Bill 10 whose recommendations they agree with the government.
She not only denied there is one person or a group of individuals that have to take upon themselves to popularise Bill 10 for some hidden motives but also disagreed with the bishops that Bill 10 contains some retrogressive clauses.
She said at no time did the government either by itself or through its representatives manipulate the content of the constitution.
Vice Chairperson Given Lubinda has challenged those stating that the publication of amendments to bill 10 as illegal to present the illegalities. Mr. Lubinda, who is also Justice Minister, said no law has been broken through gazetting the amendments to bill 10.
He said there is no law that prohibits the publication of an amendment that is to be presented.
Just withdraw that useless bill boss, don’t wasting your time explaining crazy bill.
Why are so desperately over that bill?we are voters we don’t want that rubbish bill
Why is PF preoccupied with changing the constitution through bill 10 before 2021 ?
Shouldn’t they be preoccupied with fixing the economy ???
Don’t argue with your Father.
The Catholic church has never been influential with its members who join politics whether it’s in Zambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Italy, Latin America or wht-hv-u. I’m therefore not surprised by this. Brazil and Mexico are big countries where the Catholic church has been evangelizing for more than 500 yrs. But where’s Jesus in Latin American politics? Indeed where’s God in Zambian politics? Where’s God in the Zambian parliament where every sitting begins with a prayer by the Speaker?
God bless the Catholic Bishops…
@Nemwine – don’t mention God in your discussion unless it is about saving a life, do you know that you and me are unworthy to mention the name of God? Let us talk about the fathers and politicians but let’s leave God out of it.
Meanwhile they must leave office in 2021.
The Catholic Parliamentarians!, where has this group sprang from?, PF is really desperate, are these Catholic MPs aware that Zambians were gassed and 50 innocent lives perished in the gassing Saga by PF government. Catholic Bishops demanded an explanation to this evil work from PF regime and todate answers are unavailable.
It’s surprising the politicians are so much fast to change the constitution though Bill 10 which they created within themselves and want to impose it on the people whom they didn’t inform.
We don’t want it ad it’s a waste of money ad time. Ad why should they force us to read it, whn they were creating it, we won’t part of it, did we ask for it or wht good is it going bring to us.
They hv forgotten the real issues tht can benefit the Zambians. We hv no job, starvation, price raising etc, it’s not important to them cos they are comfortable ad they want more to oppress the poor Zambians.
We say No to Bill 10 tayaka tuleshe.
I wonder why this thing must be shoveled down the throat of Zambians
Economy of mkula is no stable, look at that woman from Mandevu, Jean Kaput, she is wearing her husband ‘s suit.
Nostra whatever you smoke must be too strong ati”..she is wearing her husband’s suit”….kikikiki,walipena
Are Catholic Parliamentarians only from PF?
Your holiness the bishops please dont divide the church you have got members from those opposis and those suppoting so your role is to provide guidance and not to take sides, ecclaciasticy is built on a solid rock.
Please KEEP YOUR MASKS ON AND SOCIAL DISTANCE. This was a photo opportunity, and not enough space to fit in a picture; but some people are clearly talking face to face close enough for droplets. Or better still should all have kept your masks on if couldn’t social distance. Take this requirement seriously.
It’s the first thing I noticed…they think the covid rules can be flouted like they do with other laws…it says a lot about the whole lot am sure even in their meetings they take off the masks,these people are not only a liability to the nation but to themselves as well.It is rare you will see them using masks properly,such a simple issue can you imagine the calibre of people we are dealing with
THIS TRIBAL MAN CALLED NKANDU LUO…INSTEAD OF CONTRIBUTING TO KNOWLEDGE AT UNZA, HE DECIDED TO JOIN POLITICS TO STEAL… ANYWAY I HOPE YOU WILL GO WITH THAT LOOT TO UR GRAVE WHEN TIME COMES….YUK
These !d!ots are clowns zoona! Association of what?? hahahaha
Ishi nimbifi. Please let’s vote them out bakabolala bashakwata mitima. Everyday ni scandal
These midnight associations created by Edgar Lungu are really amazing. Are they sensing defeat over Bill 10!?
Don’t play with Vatican rules, they are bend in thinking. They know that stand on morals and supporting these thieves in suits.
PF must go!
They can’t support PF government og thieves. They upright man who stand for poor abd marginalized.
This Bill 10 must fail at all cost!
NO TO BILL TEN
Trash that bill 10, we don’t want it as it’s main purpose is to increase presidential powers n suppress opposition….to hell with that.
Association of Catholic Parliamentarians (PF) , why not specify the political party they are coming from, I know some Catholic Parliamentarians who not PF, what’s their take on bill 10?
Make the path clear for the coming saviour, those found wanting will face retribution. Aleisa 2021…Bassop!
Eish! I hope this association is registered with the Registrar of Society. If so what’s it’s constitution. Do we aspect other associations of churches to be formed in parliament. Like association of SDA, Presbyterian, CMML or what parliamentarians. Ala baProf. Just accept when things are wrong. Just go back to the drawing table & think through again.#bill10 must fall!!!
Lust for money and power kill Christian values. Bishops consult these shameful church members? My foot. Catholic church has powerful machinery to assess issues without these si called Catholic parliamentarians that only come out to fight their own bishops….mukakandwa if you play with the Catholic church, ask KK and Chiluba after resurrection
WHAT IS MR.LUO SAYING?UBUBI MAYO.IF,I WAS NOT MARRIED AND IAM GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY I WOULD RATHER BE SINGLE THAN HAVING HER AS A WIFE
Lazi @7: They themselves and their supporters claim they hv been put in positions of power and authority by God. Why then shouldn’t we ask where God is as corruption takes centre stage? Do u see the tangled web u hv woven?
OK ! CAN WE NOW HEAR FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST PALIAMENTARIANS FOLLOWED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF UCZ PALIAMENTARIANS. TOMMORROW WE WILL LISTEN TO THE ASSOCIATION OF VICTORY MINISTRIES PARLIAMENTALIANS.
Ba prof mwaluba nabanenu, you are insult us Zambian to insinuate that that we do not read, just because you are privileged to be a prof does not make you supernatural. I am not happy that you are addressing my bishops the way you are doing, i feel that you are insulting them too. When did the bishops started consulting you before they issue the statement? Are you telling us that they did not think when they issued the statement? The best leader consult others about the decision he or she is about to make. You are the formulators of the bill and the best people to judge are the outsiders. So how can the bishops consult you the owners of the bill? By the way honourables earthly positions will go one day our bishops will remain.
You have rejected your leaders ba Lubinda today and tell…
If you are torn between the Universal Catholic Church and your PF please go and join “Christians” for Lungu. The belly driven “Christians” who worship Lungu & not Christ.
Deputy Ministers, still there?