Zambian bishops defend freedom of the press following journalist’s arrest

July 21, 2009
The bishops of the southern African nation of Zambia have come to the defense of the freedom of the press following the arrest of journalist who photographed a mother giving birth to her child on a city street, thus illustrating the consequences of a strike by healthcare workers.

“The Government must clamp down on violence against the media. Furthermore, the Government must itself desist from the harassment, persecution and prosecution of individual journalists, media institutions and ordinary citizens perceived to hold different views from those favoured by the Government,” the bishops said in a July 19 statement. “Rather, the Government should expend its energy on major issues such as tackling corruption; finding solutions to the mining sector; commencing continuous voter registration; addressing food prices; buying maize and other crops from farmers; finalising an inclusive Republican Constitution and resolving the endemic power outages.”

The bishops’ comments came in a pastoral letter lamenting the state of healthcare in the nation.

Pastoral Letter from Zambian Bishops
ZAMBIA: Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter
LUSAKA, July 20, 2009 ( CISA) -A pastoral statement issued Sunday by the Catholic bishops on the occasion of the Zambia Episcopal Conference plenary meeting held at Kapingila House, Lusaka.

1.0 Introduction

As Catholic Bishops assembled in a full plenary meeting from 13 - 18 July 2009, we have seen the need to deliberate on certain issues that affect our nation, particularly the health sector.

At this early stage, however, we wish commend the Government for outlining cost-saving measures as presented by the Republican President during his press conference of 24 June 2009. It is our prayer that these measures will be effectively implemented and monitored.

2.0 The Health Care System

That our health sector is in dire straits is something that is obvious. The recent revelations of gross financial mismanagement in the Ministry of Health and the strike by our medical personnel have not only highlighted some of the serious challenges facing our health delivery system but have also resulted in untold suffering among our people.

In our day-to-day contacts particularly with the rural and peri-urban poor, we have witnessed first hand, the suffering of our people. The truth of the matter is that people are suffering and dying because they are unable to access adequate health care.

3.0 Funding to the Health Sector

As stakeholders in the health sector, managing some grant-aided health institutions, we are gravely concerned that Government has not been regularly disbursing funds to most health institutions since February 2009. When disbursements have been made, they often fall far short of the requirements and come too late. The hardest hit are the rural areas. As a Church we have in some cases resorted to closing down some facilities. For example, the nursing school at St Paul's Mission Hospital in Nchelenge has had to postpone the intake of the newly recruited student nurses. The newly recruited students were originally supposed to have reported to the school on 8 July 2009. Furthermore, the second year students will have to be sent home by the end of July, if no funding comes through. The situation is the same in most other health institutions, throughout the country. Health institutions, especially in rural areas, are being compelled to reduce on admissions and keep services to the barest minimum. In some instances only emergency cases are being attended to while patients that are seriously ill are not being referred to the next level of care due to lack of fuel. In addition, children are missing out on vital immunizations.

The onus and primary responsibility for health care is on Government. Our experience with the Government concerning funding for grant-aided health institutions is not satisfactory. Often funding meant for Church-run health institutions is either delayed or when it comes it is too little and dependant on the "goodwill" of district officials. This is unacceptable particularly because our health institutions serve all Zambians, especially the poor, regardless of their creed.

Perhaps time has come for the cooperating partners and donors to review the policy on direct budget support to Government. There should be room for direct project support to Faith Based Organisations.

4.0 Recent Strikes in the Public Service Sector

The callous indifference exhibited by Government towards the recent strikes by health personnel, teachers and other public service workers was disheartening. It should not have been business as usual when the country was faced with such crises. The Government needed to address the crises with the urgency that they deserved.

Employees in the health sector are de-motivated. Therefore the reprieve given by Government to all employees that were involved in the recent strike is welcome. However, for the spirit of reconciliation to take root, a climate of give and take needs to prevail between Government and the public service employees. Additionally, Government must do all that it can to find innovative and meaningful ways of achieving industrial harmony in the country.

5.0 Mid-term Gratuities for Members of Parliament

To mitigate the effects of the global economic downturn we accept that sacrifices need to be made by everyone in the country. In this vein, Government, Politicians and Members of Parliament must be seen to lead the way in making these sacrifices. It is therefore not morally correct for Members of Parliament to receive hefty mid-term gratuities in the face of such national difficulty. These gratuities can be deferred.

6.0 Appeals to the Government

As Catholic Bishops, we:

1. Earnestly appeal to Government to identify other available sources of finance such as savings from the windfall taxes or reserves earmarked for mid-term gratuities of parliamentarians so as to equitably direct any such funds to all health institutions.

2. Urge Government to expeditiously resolve the problem of financial mismanagement in the Ministry of Health so that funds hitherto withheld by some cooperating partners can be released;

3. Request Government to directly fund the operating costs of Church health institutions, through Church mother bodies, instead of doing so through the District Health Management Team. This, will in turn, assure quality health care provision for our rural communities;

4. Entreat Government to demonstrate commitment of instituting financial accountability and strict compliance with financial regulations in all public service institutions in order to better serve the people and regain the confidence of our cooperating partners;

5. Implore Government to desist from politicising the civil service and urge Government to strive for efficient, motivated, better-trained and adequately remunerated civil servants;

6. Call on the Government to move away from politicking and diverting attention to non-issues. The Government must clamp down on violence against the media. Furthermore, the Government must itself desist from the harassment, persecution and prosecution of individual journalists, media institutions and ordinary citizens perceived to hold different views from those favoured by the Government. Rather, the Government should expend its energy on major issues such as tackling corruption; finding solutions to the mining sector; commencing continuous voter registration; addressing food prices; buying maize and other crops from farmers; finalising an inclusive Republican Constitution and resolving the endemic power outages.

7.0 Appeal to our Cooperating Partners and Donors

We want to directly:

Appeal to our cooperating partners and donors to consider devising a workable and satisfactory system that would facilitate direct funding to Church-run health institutions.

8.0 Appeal to our Members of Parliament

To our Members of Parliament, we:

Urge them to consider postponing giving themselves the mid-term gratuities in the face of so many economic hardships. We are mindful that, at any rate, the MPs will receive their gratuities at the expiry of their tenure as MPs in 2011.

9.0 Appeal to Civil Servants

With regard to our civil servants, we:

Appreciate that our civil servants work under very difficult conditions. However, we plead with them to re-discover the spirit of service of which their noble calling demands.

10.0 Conclusion

We are aware of other aspects that need urgent Government attention and intervention. Some of these were highlighted in our Pastoral Letter, A Call to Integrity, of 1 March 2009. We encourage our Christian faithful and people of good will to read, reflect and internalise some of the issues of that Pastoral Letter such as the need to prioritise poverty eradication, working for the common good, intensifying the fight against corruption and working to combat diseases especially HIV and AIDS.

Lastly, we commend our people to prayer. We implore all our people to pray for this country so that peace continues to prevail and that integrity and prosperity will one day reign in our nation.

May God bless the people of Zambia.

Presented on 19 July 2009 in Lusaka and signed below by the following:

Rt. Rev. George Zumaile Lungu, Bishop of Chipata and ZEC President

Rt. Rev. Noel O'Regan, SMA, Bishop of Ndola and ZEC Vice President

Most Rev. Telesphore-George Mpundu, Archbishop of Lusaka

Rt. Rev. Raymond Mpezele, Bishop of Livingstone

Rt. Rev. Paul Duffy, OMI, Bishop of Mongu

Rt. Rev. Emilio Patriarca, Bishop of Monze

Rt. Rev. Alick Banda, Bishop of Solwezi

Rt. Rev. Ignatius Chama, Bishop of Mpika

Very Rev. Fr. Michel Merizzi, M. Afr., Apostolic Administrator of Mansa

Very Rev Fr. Ignatius Mwebe, Apostolic Administrator of Kasama

Most Rev. Medardo Mazombwe, Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka

Most Rev. James Spaita, Archbishop Emeritus of Kasama

Rt. Rev. Aaron Andrew Chisha, Bishop Emeritus of Mansa