THE Patriotic Front (PF) on the Copperbelt has rubbished plans by some partisan clergymen to facilitate a reconciliation meeting between President Hakainde Hichilema and former President Edgar Lungu.
Moses Musonda, the PF Copperbelt provincial youth secretary says it is unacceptable for clergymen to consider facilitating a reconciliation meeting between President Hichilema and his predecessor when they have been silent over the persecution the former head of State had been subjected to by the UPND government.
In an interview in Kitwe, Mr Musonda said it was difficult for the PF to entertain plans by some politically imbued pastors to facilitate the reconciliation meeting between the two leaders when they had reduced themselves to ruling party cadres by failing to speak out against emerging dictatorial tendencies.
He said most clergymen were cowards who were failing to speak against corruption, dictatorial tendencies and other vices taking place under the UPND government.
“We previously had respect for clergymen because they used to speak out without fear. But today’s clergymen are either cowards or have become boot lickers who can dance to any one’s tune.
These are the kind of clergymen who enjoy praising the executive to excite their masters.” Mr Musonda has since challenged the clerics, who were instrumental in campaigning for the UPND whilst in opposition to rebuke and counsel its leadership now that it was in government.
He said it was immoral that most of the politically imbued pastors who were instrumental in campaigning for the UPND had gone quiet at a time when the majority Zambians were expecting them to speak against the bad governance practices.
He said some pastors who campaigned for the UPND ahead of the 2021 elections had reduced themselves to political party cadres with no courage to speak against rampant tribalism, nepotism, dictatorial tendencies, and unfulfilled promises
“Those so-called men of God,who vigorously criticised the PF and former President Lungu and campaigned for the UPND have gone quiet at a time the country was being divided on tribal, regional and partisan lines,” Mr Musonda said.
“I am challenging members of the clergy who were instrumental in campaigning for the UPND whilst in opposition to rebuke and counsel their party leadership now that it was in government,” he said.
