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“We are partners, not competitors”: Zambia’s President Lauds Government’s Collaboration with Catholic Church in Service

Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Lusaka, 19 March, 2025 / 5:00 pm (ACI Africa).

Zambia's President, Hakainde Hichilema, has praised the longstanding partnership between the Catholic Church and his government, emphasizing that the two institutions are collaborators rather than competitors.

In his remarks during the 120th anniversary of the Chikuni Catholic Mission of Zambia’s Catholic Diocese of Monze on Sunday, March 16,  President Hichilema emphasized the need to fortify the partnership between the two institutions.

“The Catholic Church and the government are development partners, we are not competitors. Continue with your missionary work, educational work, health service provision and we will do our part as government,” he said.

He added, “It is important that we advance the sense of partnership, which has endured many years and no one will break our partnership; the Catholic Church and the government will always be one and we will work together and I want to assure you that you have our full support.”

The Zambian president who has been at the helm of the Southern African nation since August 2021 responded to the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata who on March 2, raised concern over a skewed distribution of development in the country, sparking reactions from the government’s Chief spokesperson.

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President Hichilema weighed in on the concern Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri raised, saying, “I have heard what the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata has been saying about the Chadiza - Chipata road, and I chose to use this platform to confirm that the works have already been contracted and after the rains, this government is starting the tarring of the Chadiza - Chipata road.”

He continued, “I am using this opportunity also to show you that your government is not selective, your government does not segregate; we understand that our duty is to take care of the whole country and indeed all citizens are entitled to this government’s support.”

On March 6,  Bishop George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata called for a declaration of commitment to meaningful dialogue, following a statement the Government spokesperson and Minister of Information and Media, had issued at a press briefing on March 4.

Bishop Lungu said that he, alongside the Auxiliary Bishop of his Episcopal See, has a God-given mandate which he said includes, “acknowledging the good and denouncing the evil in society.”

“We are mindful of the call that remains relevant to us and our flock, including our political leaders,” he said in the statement seen by ACI Africa on March 18, and added, “Our doors for meaningful dialogue remain open.”

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Further, the 65-year-old Catholic Church leader asserted that as shepherds they will continue to engage the government on issues of major concern affecting communities under their Pastoral Care.

“It is, therefore, our hope and prayer that government officials will equally be open and continue to respectfully engage us as a local church regarding their issues of concern,” said the Local Ordinary who has been at the helm of  Chipata Diocese since  23 February 2003.

The Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (AZADCC) also issued a statement condemning the Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa for, “issuing threats against the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese, Gabriel Msipu Phiri.”

In their March 6 statement, AZADCC said the “issues raised by Bishop Msipu of failed promises and lack of good roads in Eastern Province are genuine and affect God’s People.” 

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