Speech by his Excellency Mr. Rupiah B. Banda president of the republic of Zambia at the installation of Bishop Banda on 13th February, 2010 in Ndola
Your Exellency, the Apostolic Nuncio, Nicola Girasoli,
Your Graces,
Your Lordships,
Distinguished invited guests,
Brothers and sisters – in – Christ,
I am truly pleased to have been invited to this historic installation of Bishop Banda as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ndola. I am informed that Bishop Banda will be the first Zambian Bishop of the Diocese of Ndola. Allow me to take this opportunity to extend my hearty congratulations to him.
The Diocese of Ndola is important as it covers one of the most strategic regions of our country, the Copperbelt province. The Copperbelt is not only highly urbanised and industrialised, but also has a diverse and multi-cultural mix of Zambians. It, therefore, offers many economic opportunities and challenges which are unique in our country.
As the new Bishop of a large diverse metropolitan region, one of your challenges will be to maintain and consolidate peace among the clergy and the Christians of the Catholic Church, and those outside the Catholic Church. Your task will be to preach the universal language of peace which can and should be understood by people of all persuasions and faiths.
Your Excellency, the Apostolic Nuncio
The church should, above all, continue to play its historical role of advocating for peace and justice in our society. Your message of peace should not only be for Catholics, but for all peace loving people in our country.
Your Excellency, Graces, and Lordships,
I am happy to note that the second special assembly of the African synod of Bishops had as its theme: “the Church in Africa is service to reconciliation, justice and peace”. In line with this theme therefore, the church should continue and intensify its mission of building social bridges between individuals, families and communities.
I also note that the church, in its social teachings, has stressed the importance of justice before any long lasting peace can be achieved. It is important that the song of justice becomes part of everyday messages.
Your Exellency, Graces, and Lordships,
The social teachings of the Catholic Church have not only made it possible for the church to play a vital role in the moral and spiritual development of our people, but also to play a crucial role in the provision of social services, especially in the field of education and health.
The historical role that the Catholic Church has played in education development in this country is well known. Many of our prominent leaders in politics and other areas of human endeavour have passed through catholic schools. Commendably, the church continues to play this role, especially for the needy in our society, to this day.
The health sector is another key social sector where the Catholic Church has been involved for a long time. As in the education sector, the church has partnered with government in providing health care to the most vulnerable members of our society especially in remote places. I am told that, at the moment, the Catholic Church operates 38 health centres and ten hospitals.
Your Exellency, Graces, and Lordships,
Government applauds the crucial role that the Catholic Church has and is playing in the provision of social services in our country, as this is strong testimony that the government and the church are partners in promoting the welfare of our people. Clearly, the church and the government have always cooperated in these two areas of health and education. I trust that this cooperation will continue.
However, I am aware that many of the education and health institutions that the Catholic Church is running are government grant-aided and may not have adequate resources. Despite the limited resources at government’s disposal, my government remains committed to supporting these grant-aided institutions.
Since the recent meeting that I had with the catholic Bishops at state house, I have directed the minister of finance to meet with the leadership of the church to determine acceptable levels of resources which should go to the church’s education and health institutions in next year’s budget.
Your Exellency, Graces, and Lordships,
I wish to acknowledge that the social justice concerns of the church are also concerns of my government. Despite the recent financial difficulties occasioned by the global economic crisis, my government has sustained the provision of social services throughout the whole country in an effort to improve the welfare of our people and ensure that we achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
In education, the government has continued to construct new schools and rehabilitate other infrastructure. My government is this year completing the construction of 2,500 new classrooms at basic level. This will result into 112,500 new classroom spaces to enable the accommodation of at least 168,750 pupils.
The government is also building 18 new high schools under the community mode of construction and 45 high schools under the contractor mode. Once completed, these high schools are expected to create 32,250 additional classroom spaces by the year 2011. I must add that this is being done across the country regardless of political affiliation or voting patterns.
In the health sector, my government is constructing 15 hospitals in 19 districts that presently do not have hospitals. The government is, in addition, constructing health posts countrywide. There is also the on-going rehabilitation of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and upgrading of five urban health centres into hospitals in Lusaka.
Government is also securing new medical equipment and transport for all second and third level hospitals countrywide. Ambulances and generators are being procured for hospitals, while solar panels have been sent to 584 health centres. The procurement of drugs has greatly improved and my government is increasing its financial contribution in the procurement of life saving drugs, such as anti-retroviral or ARVs.
Distinguished guests, and brothers and sisters – in – Christ
As shepherds of the people, the catholic Bishops, through the Zambia Episcopal Conference, have a divine obligation to comment on issues of national importance. Their prophetic mission is intended to encourage government to perform better, although sometimes this has caused some uneasiness in state-church relations.
As I have stated in the past, my government will listen to the church. I personally believe that this form of constructive engagement with the church is healthy for the development of our nation. What is improper, however, is the tendency by some members of the clergy to personalise their disagreement with government on issues and begin to attack individuals in the media, especially myself.
These attacks tend to create the impression of the existence of a rift between government and the church in the public’s minds. I am advised that the opinions of individual priests are not necessarily the official voice of the Catholic Church. Be this as it may, priests, like those of us in government, must be aware that the public do not see them or us as individuals but as catholic priests or members of government. The public’s perception is that what a cabinet minister says is government’s position. Similarly, the public’s perception is that what a priest says has the blessings of the church.
My presence here today, however, is testimony to the existence of cordial relations between the government and the church.
Your Exellency, Graces, and Lordships,
In the interest of the greater common good and the glory of our lord, Jesus Christ, we expect the church to continue to play the role of a neutral advocate of peace and justice in our society. For the bible says, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god”. We do not expect the church or priests for that matter to advocate violence.
Instead, we expect our priests to provide moral guidance to our society. It is disturbing, therefore, when young clergy are in the fore front of insulting or using derogatory language to address elders. This is definitely not African or Christian conduct.
Politicians are themselves no exception. They are sometimes guilty of many social transgressions, but the church has always remained the custodian of good sense that helps to bring harmony in society. We pray that your Exellency, Graces and Lordships will guide the church to maintain its hallmark of reasoned spiritual and social crusades. This will be the example and guidance which our society needs.
The church was founded by Jesus Christ as an instrument of his profound peace. This is especially critical as we move towards the 2011 elections. The church should get actively involved in promoting political dialogue and reconciliation at both the national and local levels. This will ensure that we have a peaceful and united society. The church is unique in the sense that it preaches a message of hope and change, so that people can adopt the right attitudes towards self, others and their country.
Bishop Banda, you are not a stranger to the Ndola Diocese even though you are from the Solwezi Diocese, as you were once a priest here before your Episcopal ordination. I am informed that you have adopted the motto of the late Bishop Dennis de Jong: “restoring everything in Christ”. Please do live by this motto. By adopting this motto it shows that you want to build where your predecessors left off.
Your immediate past predecessor, Bishop Noel Charles O'regan, worked hard to promote peace and justice in Ndola on the basis of the social teachings of the Catholic Church. He also had the courage of his Christian conviction to defend the dignity and welfare of the poor and weak in our society.
Although Bishop O'regan has stepped down as the Bishop of Ndola, he has dedicated his life to serving the people of Africa as a member of the missionaries for Africa. I wish him god’s blessings in whatever capacity he will serve the people of Africa and Zambia, in particular.
Bishop O'regan’s experience from his pastoral care of the Diocese of Ndola will remain critical not only to the promotion of peace and harmony between members and non-members of the Catholic Church on the Copperbelt, but also between government and the church. I, therefore, urge you and other leaders in the Catholic Church to emulate the example set by Bishop O'regan.
As I conclude, I have no doubt in my mind that Bishop Banda will succeed in shepherding the people of Ndola in their spiritual and social life. But this will require support from everyone around you.
I, therefore, urge all the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Ndola and beyond to give you all the support you need, especially through prayers. I wish you god’s grace as you take up your new role as first Zambian Bishop of the Ndola Diocese.
May the almighty god bless you all.
May the almighty god bless Zambia.
