The Oasis Forum has consistently urged Government to consider protecting the on-going constitutional review process with a legal framework. Evidently, the history of constitution making in Zambia has shown that in the absence of such legal provisions, this process as well as the outcomes have been prone to manipulation and capture, all sorts of inefficiencies and outright confusion.
For sure, history seems to be repeating itself today with the current constitution making process. The recent statements attributed to the Spokesperson of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution clearly illustrate the repercussions of undertaking constitution making processes without paying serious attention to the importance of underpinning the process within a legal framework.
First and foremost, it is saddening to note that the Committee has failed to avail the people of Zambia with the final opportunity to validate their input in the process. The shortcoming in time could have been a foreseen challenge had the process been premised on a clearly laid down roadmap. Second and perhaps more threatening, reminiscent of past tendencies, it would be a serious error for the document to be handed only to the Republican President. It is only just and fair that this document lands in the hands of the Public who are the rightful custodians, the Republican President and Parliament at the same time!
It is on this basis that the Forum is earnestly appealing to the Patriotic Front Government, Members of the Drafting Committee and the Minister of Justice to exhibit genuine patriotism by adhering to principles of constitutionalism. In fact, it is not too late to institute a process of legally protecting the on-going constitution making process. This request is in the interest of all well-meaning Zambians!
Fr. Cleophas Lungu
(Oasis Forum Spokesperson)
Previous statement:
Category: News Page 57 of 79
News from Sectors and Rome
The Oasis Forum has consistently urged Government to consider protecting the on-going constitutional review process with a legal framework. Evidently, the history of constitution making in Zambia has shown that in the absence of such legal provisions, this process as well as the outcomes have been prone to manipulation and capture, all sorts of inefficiencies and outright confusion.
For sure, history seems to be repeating itself today with the current constitution making process. The recent statements attributed to the Spokesperson of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution clearly illustrate the repercussions of undertaking constitution making processes without paying serious attention to the importance of underpinning the process within a legal framework.
First and foremost, it is saddening to note that the Committee has failed to avail the people of Zambia with the final opportunity to validate their input in the process. The shortcoming in time could have been a foreseen challenge had the process been premised on a clearly laid down roadmap. Second and perhaps more threatening, reminiscent of past tendencies, it would be a serious error for the document to be handed only to the Republican President. It is only just and fair that this document lands in the hands of the Public who are the rightful custodians, the Republican President and Parliament at the same time!
It is on this basis that the Forum is earnestly appealing to the Patriotic Front Government, Members of the Drafting Committee and the Minister of Justice to exhibit genuine patriotism by adhering to principles of constitutionalism. In fact, it is not too late to institute a process of legally protecting the on-going constitution making process. This request is in the interest of all well-meaning Zambians!
Fr. Cleophas Lungu
(Oasis Forum Spokesperson)
Previous statement:
Sous la direction de Jan Lenssen, M.Afr en collaboration avec l’équipe du Centre Amani, Pastorale Africaine.
Horaire des émissions
Mercredi : à 19h30 – Jeudi : à 4h30 et à 16h00
Samedi: à 19h30 – Dimanche: à 17h00
Pour écouter RCF Bruxelles partout dans le monde, à l’heure même de l’émission: www.rcfbruxelles.be
Vous pouvez réécouter les émissions de la semaine dernière en «podcast» sur le site de RCF: http://www.rcfbruxelles.be/-Podcast-.html
Les prochaines Émissions : mois d’octobre 2013
02.10.2013. (sem 40-13) Abbe Oscar Zoungrana, Directeur des Œuvres Pontificales au Burkina Faso
Témoin privilégié d’une Eglise Famille, l’Abbé nous décrit, en témoin, la vie fraternelle qui rend cette Eglise si vivant et attrayante. Nous sommes invités, a u cours de ce mois d’octobre – mois de la Mission Universelle – de nous inspirer des exemples dynamiques des Eglises Sœurs de par le monde.
09.10. 2013. (sem 41-13) Mgr Bonaventure Nahimana, Evêque du diocèse de Rutana.
« Créer un nouveau diocèse dans une Eglise Famille ».
« Créer la maison de Dieu parmi les hommes, rassembler une communauté au nom du Seigneur : créer un nouveau diocèse »: agir en technicien ou bien en Père attentif ?
Le récit d’un Berger d’une communauté au Burundi, le diocèse de Rutana.
16.10. 2013 (sem 42-13) Mr Borgeois Gueipam du Congo – Brazzaville.
« Pointe Noire, porte ouverte sur un pays accueillant »
Parfois caché à l’ombre de son grand frère, le Congo Kinshasa, le Congo Brazza vit son identité propre. Pays de mission déjà lors de la colonisation Portugaise, ce seront les missionnaires du
19.me siècle qui trouveront, par ce chemin, la « porte ouverte » au cœur d’un peuple.
Témoignage d’un documentaliste de première ligne.
23.10.2013. (sem 43-13) Reprise du 11.09.2013 (sem. 37-13) P. Iréné Jacob M.Afr.
« L’apprentissage de la langue locale Africaine ».
N’est-ce pas « renaitre » dans une autre culture, dans le cœur même d’un peuple, une vraie « incarnation » ?
L’expérience exigeante, mais enrichissante, en préparation a l’annonce et de l’écoute solidaire de la Parole Nouvelle adressée a un Peuple.
Le vécu concret, première exigence missionnaire. Le P. Iréné Jacob M.Afr au Rwanda.
30.10.2013. (sem. 44-13) Monsieur Borgeois Gueipam
« L’esclavage des enfants en Afrique, trafic a partir du Benin. »
« Il faut se le faire dire … ». Une réalité !
Suite a la célébration de l’action anti-esclavagiste du Cardinal Lavigerie , il y a 125 ans. Est-ce possible ?
By Padre Florent S. Sawadogo, M.Afr, Missionarios de Africa, Paroquia de Dombe
Well prepared and discussed during sector meetings in Mozambique, the antislavery campaign finally took place in the absence of the Sector Superior, Timothée Bationo, who went to Burkina Faso for the Plenary Council. On the 29th August 2013, a minibus well decorated with writing about slavery took off from Beira to Dombe with two seminarians and a driver. The next day was the opening day of the campaign.
In Dombe, the thirsty ones for Justice & Peace awareness were ready early morning to embark to Sussundenga led by Florent S. Sawadogo en route to Tete at about 500km from there. Richard Ujwigowa was already in Tete for the ground work.
In the morning of the 31st, people from various parishes in Tete gathered at the Cathedral longing to take part into the inputs of the day. The following parishes were represented: Changara, Boroma, Matundu, Sao Pedro, Sao Jose, Moatize Cathedral and Matema. There were also some representatives from the Catholic university (UCM), other universities, the commission of Justice and Peace of Tete and some individuals like the Bishop, two visiting Brazilians and some authorities from political circles and NGO’s.
Among the Missionaries of Africa, two Fathers, two stagiaires and two seminarians spread the message of our founder Cardinal Charles Lavigerie to 108 people originating from Sofala, Manica and Tete.
The topics for discussion were: the history of slavery, the slavery of yesterday and today, the traffic of human beings and commerce of human organs, medical assistance on these cases, testimony of an elder about slavery in Mozambique and a drama which summarized this issue.
In the morning of the 1st September, Richard and Florent celebrated the closing Mass of the campaign at the outstation of Matema where the Missionaries of Africa are planning to live and work at the parish.
The seed of “the fight against slavery” has grown in Mozambique. May the Holy Spirit strengthen the hearts of men and women of good will to fight against modern slavery!
The Antislavery Trade Campaign in Chimoio
By Maurice Odhiambo, Stagiaire in Dombe Community
The Antislavery Trade Campaign came to Chimoio on the 7th and 8th of September 2013 at the Catholic University of Chimoio. Richard Ujwigowa welcomed the 500 participants present. Other organizers were Florent S. Sawadogo together with the stagiaires Maurice Odhiambo and Serge Kasongo. The conferences focussed on historical and new forms of slave trade, human trafficking and their devastating consequences.
Different dramas, dancing, reciting of poems, drawing and singing took place at the end of the day. It was a very wonderful night. So much so that no one could sleep. It was accompanied by music to keep the atmosphere conducive. At the end, the juries combined all their results and the first three winners in each item presented won different prizes. It was not only for the best performers but there were also rewards for all the participants. The function closed with the Holy Mass on the 9th at the same venue.
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- Drama play in Tete
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- Participants in Tete
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- Participants in Chimoio
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- Entertainment in Chimoio
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- Drama play in Chimoio
12-15 September 2013, by Hugh Seenan, M.Afr
The social study week in Nazaré was the climax of the three Provincial Capitals Caravan, Tete (Tete), Chimoio (Manica) and Beira (Sofala), promoting our anti-slavery campaign commemorating the 125th Anniversary of Cardinal Lavigerie, our founder’s campaign.
It was a joint week run by the Missionaries of Africa, the Archdiocese of Beira and SANTAC, the SADC sponsored group against Child Trafficking and Abuse. The participants included local traditional leaders, Catholic Secondary School pupils and their teacher, students and teachers from the Catholic University of Mozambique, local and provincial government agencies involved in this area, members of parish Justice and Peace groups as well as local religious and priests.
With the help of SANTAC we had experts in the areas of law and social policy in this area. Key themes and presentations of the Missionary of Africa campaign were integrated into this. There was much interest and lively debate in a friendly atmosphere.
Through SANTAC we had the presence of Fransisco Júnior, the top television investigative journalist in Mozambique and correspondent of VOA. He spoke about a famous case he was involved in, a report on girls trafficked to South Africa. He also made various interviews for VOA Portuguese service (radio and website see
The week was a fitting climax to our year of commemoration and through cooperation with SANTAC we hope to continue the campaign.
The week was a fitting climax to our year of commemoration and through cooperation with SANTAC we hope to continue the campaign.
Beira, 15th September 2013
As I am writing these lines, one of the major events organised at the level of SAP to mark the 125th anniversary of Lavigerie’s Antislavery campaign, has just come to an end. The sector of Mozambique was the only one capable of pulling off something in the line of the bus tour we had envisaged at the initial stage of the campaign. A minibus set off from Beira on 29th August and travelled to Tete, the boom town along the Zambezi River, picking up some people from our parishes of Dombe and Sussundenga. A two day awareness event was organised in Tete and the same happened in Chimoio a week later. Hundreds of people took part. The grand finale took place in Beira, at the centre of Nazaré, from 12th to 15th September. Conferences, debates, radio and television interviews, drama and the 4-day-long continuous and interested involvement of some 80 participants were a considerable achievement by our confreres here.
Claudio Zuccala, M.Afr
Francisco Júnior, Actualizado em: 12.09.2013 18:16
Em Moçambique os padres católicos estão a organizar um encontro para reflectir sobre o problema do tráfico de seres humanos.
O encontro decorre na cidade da Beira, centro de Moçambique. Para além dos religiosos, participam no encontro oficiais da polícia, da procuradoria da república e representantes de diversas organizações da sociedade civil.
”Não à escravatura”, é uma campanha que decorre desde o início do ano, em 22 países africanos onde a congregação católica “Missionários de África”, também conhecida por “Padres Brancos”, está presente.
Em Moçambique, e na zona centro do país, os religiosos já promoveram diversas actividades nas províncias de Tete e Manica, e, de hoje até domingo, vão reunir-se num centro, em Inhamízua, periferia da cidade costeira da Beira. Um encontro de reflexão onde se falará do tráfico de seres humanos.
Com a presente campanha, os Missionários de África pretendem também celebrar os 125 anos da campanha lançada pelo seu fundador, o cardeal Charles Lavengerie, para a abolição da escravatura em África.
Fundada em 1868, a congregação “Missionários de África” estabeleceu-se em Moçambique em 1946 nas províncias centrais de Manica e Sofala onde, para além da sua missão evangélica, tem contribuído para a formação de líderes religiosos sobre a doutrina social da Igreja, justiça e paz, preservação e protecção do meio ambiente, bem como no diálogo inter-religioso.
Não obstante o encontro da Beira marcar o encerramento da campanha “quebremos as correntes”, as acções de prevenção e sensibilização não vão parar tal como referiu à Voz da América, o Padre Hugo Seenan, um dos organizadores do encontro de reflexão sobre o fenómeno de tráfico de seres humanos que iniciou esta quinta-feira e termina domingo, em Inhamízua, arredores da cidade da Beira.
Francisco Júnior, Actualizado em: 12.09.2013 18:16
Em Moçambique os padres católicos estão a organizar um encontro para reflectir sobre o problema do tráfico de seres humanos.
O encontro decorre na cidade da Beira, centro de Moçambique. Para além dos religiosos, participam no encontro oficiais da polícia, da procuradoria da república e representantes de diversas organizações da sociedade civil.”Não à escravatura”, é uma campanha que decorre desde o início do ano, em 22 países africanos onde a congregação católica “Missionários de África”, também conhecida por “Padres Brancos”, está presente.
Em Moçambique, e na zona centro do país, os religiosos já promoveram diversas actividades nas províncias de Tete e Manica, e, de hoje até domingo, vão reunir-se num centro, em Inhamízua, periferia da cidade costeira da Beira. Um encontro de reflexão onde se falará do tráfico de seres humanos.
Com a presente campanha, os Missionários de África pretendem também celebrar os 125 anos da campanha lançada pelo seu fundador, o cardeal Charles Lavengerie, para a abolição da escravatura em África.
Fundada em 1868, a congregação “Missionários de África” estabeleceu-se em Moçambique em 1946 nas províncias centrais de Manica e Sofala onde, para além da sua missão evangélica, tem contribuído para a formação de líderes religiosos sobre a doutrina social da Igreja, justiça e paz, preservação e protecção do meio ambiente, bem como no diálogo inter-religioso.
Não obstante o encontro da Beira marcar o encerramento da campanha “quebremos as correntes”, as acções de prevenção e sensibilização não vão parar tal como referiu à Voz da América, o Padre Hugo Seenan, um dos organizadores do encontro de reflexão sobre o fenómeno de tráfico de seres humanos que iniciou esta quinta-feira e termina domingo, em Inhamízua, arredores da cidade da Beira.
FENZA Conference: September 17, 2013
This was the theme of the conference organized by the FENZA team on Saturday 17th against the backdrop of the Antislavery Campaign celebrations and commemorations which are coming to an end this month.
Four inputs were given. Claudio Zuccala, the JPICED Provincial Coordinator, presented the historical background in which the campaign was launched by cardinal Lavigerie -with specific references to the situation encountered by the first White Fathers when they arrived in Zambia at the end of the 19th century-, and the link with contemporary forms of slavery. Brother Jacek Rakowski, director of the Home of Hope, spoke about the slavery inherent to the life of children living in the streets. Sister Sabina Namfukwe, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Child Jesus, currently matron at the Zambia Catholic University, shared her experience in the field of fighting Human Trafficking in rural areas in Zambia, especially in villages near border towns. In her presentation she explained the methods used by the traffickers and the main causes and contributing factors that lie behind the problem.
Finally, Mr Francis Chivuta, coordinator of the National Freedom Network in Zambia and directly involved in human trafficking awareness raising and victim support, illustrated the aim, the goal and the methodology used by the NFN which was launched in South Africa in 2011 but is now operating in different countries.
The conference was made lively by PowerPoint presentations and short video clips on the topic. Some of the participants raised interesting questions and gave their own enriching contribution to the debate.
One of the strongest outcomes of the conference is the necessity to create a network of all the parties interested and committed to fighting modern slavery. That would enable us to pool together our resources and plan for the future. We are all convinced that it’s absolutely necessary to keep high the alert level and to do whatever is within our outreach to try and stop any form of slavery. It’s good to keep that in mind as the FENZA team will draw up a table of contents for the next series of conferences.
N.B. Most of the material used during the conference is readily available. Please contact Romaric Bationo at director@fenza.org or Claudio Zuccala at c_zuccala@hotmail.com
Egypt’s political unrest has brought suffering not only to its own people but also to hundreds of African refugees. Their goal is Israel but many end up as hostages on the Sinai Peninsula.
Kahassay Woldesselasie simply wanted to get away from Eritrea. He planned to begin a new life in a country where citizens are not as brutally suppressed as in his East African homeland. Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa, is one of the world’s most secretive and repressive regimes.
Woldesselasie initially fled to neighboring Sudan. While there he heard rumors of good jobs being offered in Israel. A human trafficking syndicate offered to take him there. Woldesselasie agreed and fell into their trap. The traffickers abducted him and took him as a hostage to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.
On the journey they blindfolded him, there was little food and water. The gangsters threatened to kill him if he did not pay ransom. “You have no choice but to call your relatives,” Woldesselasie told DW in an interview. “If they agree to pay, you might be lucky. But if they don’t, you’re dead.”
The lucky and the unlucky
Woldesselasie was one of the lucky ones. Family members living abroad agreed to pay for his release.
Israel refers to asylum seekers from Africa as ‘infiltrators’
He was set free and finally managed to cross the border into Israel.
Not many are as lucky as Woldesselasie, says Hamdy al-Azazy, an Egyptian human rights activist who lives in al-Arish, the capital of the North Sinai region. He has met Eritrean refugees who had been held captive for weeks in torture camps.
While their families are listening over the phone, the victims would be subjected to burnings or have their limbs broken. Such painful experiences would then push even the poorest of families to send money. Those who don’t comply risk having their relatives being buried in the desert. According to al-Azazy, more than 500 remains of dead bodies of Africans were discovered in the desert in the past years.
The Sinai equation
The Sinai Peninsula has long been a powder keg. The indigenous population consists of Bedouin Arab tribes who settled there several hundred years ago. Today, they only represent about half of the approximately 500,000 inhabitants.
Israel withdrew from the area back in 1982 and left it to the Egyptian state. Egypt then took the best land from the Bedouins, says Günter Meyer, director of the Center for Research on the Arab World at the University of Mainz. “This goes back to a long period of discrimination against the Bedouin population.” According to Meyer, the Bedouins were seen by Egyptians as Israeli collaborators, drug smugglers and illiterate.”Meyer however emphasizes that only a small minority of the Bedouin is involved in the criminal gangs that deal in human trafficking. According to Human Rights Watch over 1,500 Eritreans flee the country every month Following the Arab Spring which began in 2011, security forces have been weakened in the Sinai Peninsula giving the traffickers more leeway. The situation has “escalated dramatically,” Meyer warns. There are no known figures for the number of refugees detained in torture camps in the Sinai or how many of those hostages have perished. According to the Israeli government, more than 10,000 illegal immigrants crossed the Sinai border into Israel in 2012. Most of them came from Eritrea and Sudan. But in Israel, a nation once founded by immigrants, the refugees are not welcome. They have little chance of obtaining political asylum. Instead Israel has built a more than 200-kilometer – long (124 miles) fence against them. In the first five months of 2013, only 33 refugees managed to cross the border. Little international support The world, including the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), has turned a deaf ear to the plight of these refugees, says human rights activist Hamdy al-Azazy. “They write their reports from their air-conditioned offices in Cairo,” he laments. “Nobody is on site to assess the real situation. I’m the only one here in the midst of all these dangers.” There have been several attacks on him, he adds. African asylum seekers meet with harsh reality in Israel. His office was ransacked, his children have been attacked.
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- Israel refers to asylum seekers from Africa as ‘infiltrators’
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- According to Human Rights Watch over 1,500 Eritreans flee the country every month
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- African asylum seekers meet with harsh reality in Israel
One of our students in formation, Humphrey Mukuka, Zambian, made his thirty day retreat in Ghana in August. While still in the country, an important football match took place between the Black Starts of Ghana and Chipolopolo team of Zambia. Which one to support? This is what he says: “this exciting game taught me how to control myself while being a Chipolopolo fan in another country. Despite that Chipolopolo lost the match, I joined the Ghanaian fans in their joyful festivity.” Humphrey is now pursuing his theological studies in Abidjan.
Ghana won 2 goals against 1 in Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on the 6th September. With this win, Ghana have made it to the play-offs stage of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Africa.
Thanks Humphrey for this nice story! Let us rejoice with the Black Stars fans until Chipolopolo wins again.
By Jean-Baptiste Todjro 
, Stagiaire
For a while, we have a break from our daily activities to have fun. This weekend was a particular one in the life of the faithful of Saint Lawrence Parish. On Saturday we gather to relax with sport activities. While the Youth Council in collaboration with some football teams of the place where enjoying themselves on the football ground, our mothers and grandmothers where enjoying netball and athletics. Today, Sunday August 11, we close our festivities with mass and the blessing of the grotto.
Happy Saint Lawrence to all!
, Stagiaire
For a while, we have a break from our daily activities to have fun. This weekend was a particular one in the life of the faithful of Saint Lawrence Parish. On Saturday we gather to relax with sport activities. While the Youth Council in collaboration with some football teams of the place where enjoying themselves on the football ground, our mothers and grandmothers where enjoying netball and athletics. Today, Sunday August 11, we close our festivities with mass and the blessing of the grotto.
Happy Saint Lawrence to all!
Greetings from JCTR!
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection seeks to recruit a Media Relations Consultant as per attached terms of reference. Closing date for expressions of interest is 12:00 hours on 20th September 2013.
Kindly circulate this advert through your network.
Regards,
Namundi Siwale
Acting Information Officer
Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection3813 Martin Mwamba Road, Olympia
P.O. Box 37774, Lusaka 10101 Zambia
Tel: +260-211-290410; Fax: +260-211-290759; 0955 291052 Terms of reference for a Media Consultant Background The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection Centre (JCTR) is a faith based organization with a mission to foster critical understanding of current issues from a faith inspired perspective that generate action for the promotion of the fullness of human life. This is done through research, advocacy, education and consultancy. In its advocacy work, the Centre through its information office widely uses the media to disseminate its information. The media therefore plays a critical role in the advocacy work of the Centre. It is in this regard that the Centre seeks the services of a media person until December 2013 to seek ways of enhancing the Centre’s media relations in order to raise its profile and reach a wider audience. Objective The major objective is to: Conceptualize and develop a media strategy for the JCTR Duties and Responsibilities Review JCTR current media relations Produce stories for the media from JCTR specific activities that have been done. Recommend how JCTR can enhance its media relations Monitoring and progress controls: a) The consultancy work plan will be developed and agreed no later than two days after the start of consultancy work b) The consultants work will be under the supervision of the Deputy Director’s Office c) The outputs will be reviewed according to the agreed upon milestones in the contract. Expression of interest should include: Technical proposal: brief profile about the consultant with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; understanding of the ToR and task to be accomplished Financial Proposal: This should provide cost estimates for the consultancy (fees based on persons days for the assignment).