Zambia: Repair the Damage to Clergy's Image

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
4 August 2008

CHURCHES involved in child welfare must restore the Government's lost confidence that they will prioritise issues of children's rights in their operations, a clergyman in Kitwe has said.

Dayspring Worship Centre Pastor, Joseph Mwila said the Government had lost confidence in the Church because of the few leaders who mistreated children or misused funds meant for the children.

He was speaking in Kitwe at the weekend at Dayspring drop-in centre when he launched the distribution of gifts to different children and equipment to hospitals, obtained from Ireland.

Pastor Mwila said churches should play a critical role in the protection of children's rights but the Government was not using them because of the lost confidence in them.

He said children had a right to good life even if infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Pastor Mwila said children infected or affected by the pandemic must not turn into street children or irresponsible citizens when the Church was there to help them.

He commended the Government for ensuring that the container of goods received from Ireland came into the country duty free.

"I wish to state that it is not as if Government does not want to help us but it is because of the past where some church leaders misused funds at the expense of the children.

"This should not continue with such misdeeds if we are to restore Government's confidence and in the end help these children who are suffering and on the streets," Pastor Mwila said.

Global Institute for Children's Development (GICD) board Chairman Godfrey Simukonda said it was unfortunate that some non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) were abusing funds for children.
Mr Simukonda said any organisation found wanting must be prosecuted to sound a warning to would-be offenders.

He said children must not be used as capital but protected by everyone so that they could feel safe in everyone's hands.

He challenged the Church to start sensitising the community on the need to protect the rights of the children.

Mr Simukonda said the Church was a partner in development because they were also leaders.
"The challenge is upon every member of the community to ensure that they report any NGO that is abusing these vulnerable children because these NGOs are in the community and not isolated.

"I think Government must deal with these people who are found wanting and not just letting them free because law is law and anyone who comes into conflict with it must face it," Mr Simukonda said.


The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
4 August 2008
EDITORIAL

CHURCES involved in child welfare should reflect on the advice given by Dayspring Worship Centre Pastor, Joseph Mwila over the Government's loss of confidence in them.

There is no doubt that the bad deeds of some members of the clergy running orphanages have seriously dented the image of most of the people involved in the welfare of children.

In certain instances, the people caring for kids have collected huge amounts of money in the name of supporting vulnerable children but used the financial support for selfish interests.

Some members of the clergy running orphanages have been implicated in child trafficking scandals, where the kids seeking to have joy have ended up as sex slaves under sophisticated cartels.

Others who volunteered to care for such kids have not only squandered the finances thereby denying the children a descent livelihood, but gone as afar as abusing them.
This is unacceptable.

These cannot be the deeds of the true church. The truth is that false prophets have invaded the Church and are using its name to champion their wicked desires, including the sexual abuse of children who are in need of help.

One way that the churches can restore confidence is to work closely with the Government and ensure that all the wrong-doers are exposed, and committed people are left to genuinely care for the children.

The genuine clergy obviously know themselves and it should not be a big problem to identify those pretending to be men of God when their agenda points to something else.

By exposing such people, the Church will not only mend its image but protect the children.
That way, society will be made to appreciate the real clergy who can be entrusted with the task of caring for children without taking advantage of the kids' desperate situation.

It will neither help the Church nor the kids that they are supposed to help if people coming with ulterior motives are allowed to operate simply because they claim they are there to help.

We therefore find the words of Pastor Mwila a good starting point to redeem the image of the local church in this regard. Churches have always been the last bastion of joy for the disadvantaged and that should continue to be so.

Of course, it may take time to restore the lost confidence but by openly talking about the past mistakes and beginning programmes to repair the damage, people will slowly regain the hope they previously had in the Church.