BY DAVIS MATAKA
Oh! What a week and if you are a keen follower of the Press and politics in Zambia, these last seven days must have gone down as some of the most interesting in a long time. The issues of infidelity, or alleged infidelity, the so called “secret families exposé’s- haa! What a mouth full.
As the foray continues to unfold, I decided it would be of utmost interest to the public to again dedicate this week to some of the developments, which occurred, and what the implications to society this could have.
Not so long ago, the international Press was awash with headlines about the other life of golf icon Tiger Woods who was almost clubbed by his wife for alleged infidelity and was only saved courtesy of a fire hydrant in which his car rammed as he dared an escape from his enraged wife. He ended up with a concussion.
The fall-out, an emotional apology to his wife, the golfing fraternity and a couple of few millions of dollars in lost franchises from what the morally upright, seemingly unblemished and judgmental business society felt would harm their cause.
Another scandal was that of Chelsea Football club captain John Terry who reportedly took the lover of a teammate and I can assure you they never lived happily ever after- for the footballer; he lost the England captain’s armband and a lot of respect from his colleagues.
Nearer home, the story of Jacob Zuma and his many wives spiraled out of control with critics calling him all manner of names.
But the Zulu South African president came out of it almost unscathed and believe it or not, we hear he is about to take another wife into his kraal, man he must be a charmer!
I know this may not settle well with most of our women folk who may not resist to call me a “Male chauvinist………” but look here, it takes two to tangle and I doubt so much if the numerous Mrs. Zumas could be bundled in the category of vulnerable.
Anyway, Zuma himself has acknowledged that he is a Zulu traditionalist and his culture permits him to take on as many wives as he can afford.
And depending from which pedestal of high moral standard you are criticising there is always justification for what you are doing or not doing.
Factors like cultural orientation: Western or African, religious standing, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist or otherwise, all these situations in their variation will determine how to live your life and by what standard you will be judged.
The problem I seem to have is where people want to employ double standards in their lives- wanting to have the best of all worlds.
Mr Michael Sata inadvertently questioned the morality of Dr Frederick Chiluba who was traversing the length and breadth of the Copperbelt singing praise of President Rupiah Banda’s sound economic policies.
When Mr Sata touched on the marriage of the former president to his blushing bride Regina, he did not realise that he would open a Pandora’s box.
Now we are privy to all sorts of carefully tucked away family secrets, which surely should have remained where they were, away in the closets.
I am very disappointed with the clergy and especially the Roman Catholic Church leadership in Zambia who have conspicuously kept quiet over these allegations of impropriety on the part of Mr Sata.
Several Press queries over the matter to the Catholic Church over the same have gone unanswered or the people spoken have continued to dodge the questions.
What I am seeing here is a case of double standards being employed by the Church, (Roman Catholics) why have they not made a stand over the matter up to now.
Or do we take it that there is indeed substance in the allegations that Mr Sata’s “concubine” is indeed related to some senior Church leader.
The Catholics themselves have not been immune to such allegations over sexual misbehavior and the Pope is on record apologising to victims of those sexually abused by some too “active” prelates, some of whom have been accused of homosexuality.
Why the fuss about Mr Sata?
Well he is a national leader seeking to take over the reigns of power at the highest order and the sooner he publicly apologises to all, the better the chances of him getting on the track of his national agenda.
The Catholics are not doing him a favour either by trying to mask him from the shame and fall from grace after the revelations.
The questions are still begging for the Catholic fraternity to either publicly condemn him or defend and praise him for what he has done.
Or do we conclude that for some Catholic priests there is too much to hide that the moment they condemn Mr Sata, someone from their past will spill the beans about children they sired and hid from society just to gain acceptance in the eyes of the public and to be able to sway in the robes and gowns of the Church as they drink wine from the chalices of copper and break the holy Eucharist bread?
We all look up to the Church for spiritual direction and blessings and keeping quiet about such scandal and only crying wolf when an honorable member of Parliament is captured on camera blinking, but with his eyes closed is an abuse of this God given calling.
Let us as Catholics be seen to also condemn our flock when there is a wrong or injustice done.
At the rate things are going, the partisan stance that some leaders of the Church have taken, especially the Catholic Church which is very respected around the world can be its undoing.
Maybe we should instead petition the Pope to put this matter to rest?
Leaders regardless of which religious orientation they subscribe must live by their doctrines and not to want to borrow what they think is the best for them.
[Times of Zambia]
