AFRICA/ZAMBIA - The Church's contribution to the growth of the nation after 50 years of independence

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Lusaka (Agenzia Fides) - "The Catholic Church is part of the Zambian society, and shares the joys and sorrows of the nation. This is why there is great respect, and her influence has grown, thanks to her prophetic voice", says to Fides Agency Fr. Bernard Makadani Zulu, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Zambia, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of national independence.
The Church has given, and continues to provide an essential contribution to the material and spiritual growth of the Country. In the health field, for example, the Church through its 17 hospitals, 38 rural health centers and other base community programs, provides 40% of healthcare in the Country. Even the program that allowed Zambia to reduce the incidence of AIDS had a strong support from the Church. As recalled by Fr. Bernard, "the Church has taken care of the poor, providing service to more than 200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 100,000 children orphaned because of the virus".
Also the contribution of the Church in education (from rural schools to those in cities, considered among the best in the Country) and in that of economic development is also important. Among other things, the Church has promoted the success of organic and sustainable agriculture.
The Catholic community in the past 50 years has become self-sufficient in terms of Church personnel, thanks to a number of priestly and religious vocations, to the point that Zambian missionaries were sent to Nigeria, Rwanda, Cameroon, Paraguay, Italy, Usa, England.
In combining the past with the future, Fr. Bernard indicates, among the future challenges the Church has to face, the gap between rich and poor, the spread of witchcraft and Satanism (some people were killed because of these beliefs) and alcoholism. To cope with these problems the Church must have the ability to deepen faith, increase economic independence and promote evangelization through the use of new and old media (radio, television, internet). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2014)


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