Civil Society in Zambia rallies in support of Jesuit Fr. Leonard Chiti

Zambia’s Oasis Forum says it is deeply concerned and saddened at personal attacks leveled at Jesuit priest, Fr. Leonard Chiti by politicians.

In a statement of 16 September 2015, made available to Vatican Radio, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) Secretary General, Fr. Cleophas Lungu who is also Oasis Forum Chairperson said Fr. Chiti speaks with the full support of the Grand Coalition that he heads as Chairperson.

In coming to the defence of Fr. Chiti, the Oasis Forum has said, “We also find it to be in bad taste the attempts by some people to demonise and try to isolate the Grand Coalition, especially its Chairperson, Fr Chiti, who carries the full mandate of speaking on behalf of the Grand Coalition and usually after wide consultation and deliberation by the various committees of the Coalition. To vilify him in his individual capacity is therefore grossly unfair and highly unchristian,” Fr. Lungu said.

Zambia’s Oasis Forum (formed in 1996) is a consortium of member-associations comprising the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ). Fr. Lungu has said the Oasis Forum stands “solidly with and wholeheartedly supports Fr. Chiti.”

Fr. Leonard Chiti is the Director of the Lusaka-based Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). The media attacks, by politicians against Fr. Chiti stem from his role as the current Chairperson of the umbrella group of Church and civil society associations which has recently emerged in the past two years. The grouping calls itself the ‘Grand Coalition.’ 

The Grand Coalition formed early in 2014 by various civil society organisations and Church associations, some of which were already members of the Oasis Forum, has been putting pressure on government to enact a new republican constitution. In recent months, Fr. Chiti has been publicly critical of the PF Government led by President Edgar Lungu saying that the President had reneged on his election promise to enact a new people driven constitution. After winning the presidential elections, in January 2015, President Lungu’s Government has not been keen on a new constitution. Instead, President Lungu’s Government is now on a course to amend the existing constitution rather than call for a referendum that would usher in a completely new constitution.  

Fr. Lungu said, in the statement issued today, that most Zambian civil society organisations and Church bodies support the stance taken by Fr. Chiti in his recent media pronouncements against the PF Government. The Oasis Forum says it believes that Fr. Chiti by speaking on behalf of the Grand Coalition is actually speaking on behalf many voiceless citizens of Zambia who have been calling for constitutional reform that meets their needs and aspirations.

“The Oasis Forum therefore strongly condemns the continued personal attacks on Fr. Chiti and calls upon all well-meaning Zambians to continue to support him and the just cause for which he is fighting for the greater good of all Zambians,” said Fr. Lungu in his statement.

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