Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema Emphasizes Partnership with Catholic Church
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia has praised the strong partnership with the Catholic Church during the Chikuni Catholic Mission’s 120th anniversary. He emphasized collaboration over competition and assured the Church of full governmental support in its missions. His comments were partly in response to concerns about unequal development raised by Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata.
On March 16, 2025, during the 120th anniversary of the Chikuni Catholic Mission in Monze, Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema affirmed the strong partnership between the Zambian government and the Catholic Church. He asserted that both entities function as collaborators rather than competitors in their mutual efforts to improve the nation.
President Hichilema emphasized the importance of enhancing this longstanding collaboration by stating, “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.” His remarks underline the necessity of joint efforts in various sectors to better serve the Zambian populace.
Highlighting the resilience of this partnership, the President declared, “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.” This statement reflects his commitment to continued cooperation with the Church.
The President’s comments were a response to Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata’s criticism on March 2 regarding unequal development distribution in Zambia. Following the Bishop’s statement, government spokespersons addressed the concerns raised, demonstrating ongoing dialogue between church and state regarding developmental issues.
The recent remarks by President Hakainde Hichilema highlight the collaborative spirit between the Zambian government and the Catholic Church. By reinforcing their partnership and emphasizing mutual support for various community services, he reiterated the commitment to work together for national development. This enduring alliance symbolizes a progressive approach to addressing societal needs in Zambia.
Original Source: www.aciafrica.org
