Caritas Zambia Backs Bishops’ Calls For Bill 10 Withdrawal

The faith-based civil society organisation Caritas Zambia has supported the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) in calling for the withdrawal of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill 10. 

The organisation’s executive director, Eugene Kabilika, has issued a statement on behalf of Caritas Zambia Dicoesan Directors.

The statement calls for inclusive consultations on proposed amendments to the country’s agenda, adding that Bill 10 “falls short of promoting some of the key principles of the Social Teaching of the Church”. 

The statement goes on to argue that as the controversial legislation officially lapsed on 4 June, it would be wrong for the government to insist on passing it.

It follows recent comments from the President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, George Cosmas Lungu, who said that Bill 10 was polarising Zambians and should be withdrawn from parliament.

ZCCB secretary general Fr Cleophas Lungu added that, while amendments to Zambia’s constitution were necessary, the PF government had hijacked the opportunity for reform to push its own agenda.

“Alas, we see now that the Patriotic Front Government has gone beyond the original objective. Some wholesale changes are being proposed that will radically change the nature of the Constitution and even the nature of our young but maturing democracy,” Fr Lungu said. 

Caritas executive director Eugene Kabilika