From July 15 to 21, 2013, some 40 women and men from every continent gathered together in Nairobi, Kenya—at Dimesse House of Spirituality and The Catholic University of Eastern Africa—to attend the Fifth International Conference and General Assembly of the International Association of Catholic Missiologists on the theme, “Missio Inter-Gentes: Challenges and Opportunities.” This was the first time IACM has met on the continent of Africa and Madagascar. We have been blessed by our gracious hosts, welcomed by the local Archdiocese of Nairobi. As we heard on the first day, there is no word for stranger in Africa, once you enter a house you a member of that house – and we have certainly felt that during our time here. Indeed, we have received a comprehensive African welcome from so many people from different parts of the Continent. We have experienced meaningful and beautiful morning prayer and worship. We have greatly enjoyed the energy and vitality of African worship – where theology is truly 
sung and danced, where youth and women are making such a significant contribution to liturgical life. We have experienced an abundance of food, which was graciously served. We have enjoyed each other’s company, including our music and songs. We have experienced inspiring and stimulating presentations and reflections as well as excursions to sites that gave us better insight into life in Nairobi, and by extension, into Africa – even the traffic and roads became part of this reflection and facilitated even more conversations! We have been served by the excellent organization of the IACM Executive led by President, Rev Dr Andrew Gimenez Recepcion. These have been days which have been truly memorable. We have been blessed to be invited to take off our shoes and walk on the holy ground of Africa. READ MORE
Category: Publications Page 34 of 41
Various publications; Bulletins, magazines
By Pierre Lafollie M.Afr
Published in the Saturday Post, Saturday 20 July 2013
When the White Fathers arrived in the north of Zambia in 1891 they discovered that the slave trade was still thriving in spite of having been abolished by many countries. Their reports, together with other witnesses coming from different parts of Africa, prompted their founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, to launch an antislavery campaign whose 125th anniversary is being celebrated this year. But the fight is far from over since slavery is still with us.
The White Fathers in Northern Zambia
When Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, it was the last Western country to do so. Thus, when the first Missionaries of Africa (popularly known as the White Fathers) settled in July 1891 at Mambwe Mwela, along today’s Tanzania – Zambia border, the Western slave trade had ended since its market, essentially across the Atlantic, had disappeared and the slaves had already been freed. In this corner of Africa though, the missionaries arrived in a country devastated by a still active campaign of slave raiding. READ MORE
Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :
– Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux »
et à l’occasion du mois du Ramadan qui a commencé il y a une semaine
« Le début du ramadan », avec la lettre que le Père Claude Rault, évêque du Sahara, a écrit à ses frères musulmans à cette occasion, ainsi qu’un rappel de ce qu’est ce mois de jeûne (lire la suite)
« Entre la Croix et le Croissant », le témoignage de notre confrère Adrien Mamadou Sawadogo, d’origine musulmane, devenu chrétien, puis missionnaire et prêtre (lire la suite)
« Dialogue et fondamentalisme », un article écrit par Joseph Clochard, une réflexion pour évaluer les possibilités du dialogue dans des conditions qui sont devenues parfois très difficiles du fait de la radicalisation de certains. (lire la suite)
– Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Deux ordinations de M.Afr au Burkina» : à savoir celles de nos confrères Charles Nikiema à Boulsa et Boris Yabre à Manga. (lire la suite)
« Le lien avec la Province d’Afrique Australe », le dernier message reçu, qui nous partage le vécu de cette Province des Missionnaires d’Afrique, qui comporte la Zambie, le Mozambique, la Malawi et l’Afrique du Sud. (lire la suite)
– Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Le Pape en visite à Lampedusa », son homélie prononcée sur cette île entre la Tunisie et l’Italie, pour montrer combien le sort des migrants le préoccupe. (lire la suite)
Press Release, 9th July 2013
JCTR urges government to tackle escalating cost of food
In May 2013, government sequentially scrapped off fuel and maize subsidies contending that the measure would free resources for infrastructure development and poverty reduction among others. This change in subsidies has generated a debate with various actors voicing varying views.
At household level, the effects of the subsidies removal on prices of basic commodities are still being felt two months afterwards. According to Daniel Mutale, Social conditions programme manager, ‘‘the effects of removal of subsidies on basic food items are deepening.’’ This calls for an urgent response to address the rising food costs. READ MORE
Livingstone, July 14 2013
UNICEF Child Protection Officer Edwin Mumba says it is disappointing that most Zambians remain ignorant on the dangers and gravity Human Trafficking posses on society. And a representative from Justice and Peace, Sister Lynette Rodrigues, says there was great demand for commercial sex nowadays which many vulnerable women were ready to engage in regardless of the consequences. Mr. Mumba has noted with concern that due to poverty and vulnerability of various groups, it was easy for unscrupulous individuals to traffic unsuspecting citizens within and outside Zambia.
He for this reason cautioned Livingstone residents to be wary of such individuals ahead of the The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe. “These unscrupulous people would use the UNWTO summit it as an opportunity to traffic unsuspecting Zambians,” he said.
Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) reports that UNICEF Child Protection Officer said this today during a stakeholder’s workshop on Human Trafficking ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly, organized by the Catholic Diocese of Livingstone. He said the tourist capital would have an influx of people from different parts of the world during UNWTO General Assembly and as such, precautions had to be taken to protect Zambians, especially children and the youths, from being trafficked.
Mr. Mumba stated that human trafficking was a major challenge for the country as Zambia was a source, transit and destination for human trafficking victims. “Many of you may not be aware but men, women and children are trafficked to, through and within Zambia,” he said.
He however, commended government for its response to the vice such as formulation of the Anti-Trafficking Act Number 11 of 2008 and the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Trafficking. Mr. Mumba emphasized the need to prevent human trafficking as it was almost impossible to retrieve people once they were trafficked due to weaknesses in the country’s legal system.
Meanwhile, a representative from Justice and Peace, Sister Lynette Rodrigues, says there was great demand for commercial sex nowadays which many vulnerable women were ready to engage in regardless of the consequences. “There is great demand for commercial sex and people are ready to supply regardless of the consequences…that is the reality of our world,” she said.
Sister Lynette lack of statistics underplayed the extent of human trafficking in Zambia. Sr. Rodrigues cited porous borders, poor implementation of laws and the country’s economic status as factors that hindered the fight against human trafficking.
UNICEF Child Protection Officer Edwin Mumba says it is disappointing that most Zambians remain ignorant on the dangers and gravity Human Trafficking posses on society. And a representative from Justice and Peace, Sister Lynette Rodrigues, says there was great demand for commercial sex nowadays which many vulnerable women were ready to engage in regardless of the consequences. Mr. Mumba has noted with concern that due to poverty and vulnerability of various groups, it was easy for unscrupulous individuals to traffic unsuspecting citizens within and outside Zambia.
He for this reason cautioned Livingstone residents to be wary of such individuals ahead of the The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe. “These unscrupulous people would use the UNWTO summit it as an opportunity to traffic unsuspecting Zambians,” he said.
Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) reports that UNICEF Child Protection Officer said this today during a stakeholder’s workshop on Human Trafficking ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly, organized by the Catholic Diocese of Livingstone. He said the tourist capital would have an influx of people from different parts of the world during UNWTO General Assembly and as such, precautions had to be taken to protect Zambians, especially children and the youths, from being trafficked.
Mr. Mumba stated that human trafficking was a major challenge for the country as Zambia was a source, transit and destination for human trafficking victims. “Many of you may not be aware but men, women and children are trafficked to, through and within Zambia,” he said.
He however, commended government for its response to the vice such as formulation of the Anti-Trafficking Act Number 11 of 2008 and the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Trafficking. Mr. Mumba emphasized the need to prevent human trafficking as it was almost impossible to retrieve people once they were trafficked due to weaknesses in the country’s legal system.
Meanwhile, a representative from Justice and Peace, Sister Lynette Rodrigues, says there was great demand for commercial sex nowadays which many vulnerable women were ready to engage in regardless of the consequences. “There is great demand for commercial sex and people are ready to supply regardless of the consequences…that is the reality of our world,” she said.
Sister Lynette lack of statistics underplayed the extent of human trafficking in Zambia. Sr. Rodrigues cited porous borders, poor implementation of laws and the country’s economic status as factors that hindered the fight against human trafficking.
Human trafficking is modern slavery, says Kapiri DC
By Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi, Friday 05 Nov. 2010
KAPIRI Mposhi district commissioner Cosmas Musumpuka has observed that human trafficking is a complex phenomenon which involves deception of the potential victims.
21 million trapped in forced labour, says International Labour Organisation
By Mwala Kalaluka in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday 11 June 2012
ALMOST 21 million people are victims of forced labour globally, trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived and they cannot leave, according to a new International Labour Organisation study.
And the ILO says the situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories is extremely worrying and remains precarious.
US estimates 27m victims of human trafficking By Fridah Nkonde, Saturday 23 June 2012 US Embassy acting public affairs officer Adam Jagelski says an estimated 27 million around the world are victims of human trafficking.
US estimates 27m victims of human trafficking By Fridah Nkonde, Saturday 23 June 2012 US Embassy acting public affairs officer Adam Jagelski says an estimated 27 million around the world are victims of human trafficking.
A Newsletter for the Candidates and Students of the Missionaries of Africa
The Pope to those discerning their vocations
“You are young people on a vocational journey. You represent the Church’s youth! If the Church is the Bride of Christ, you in a certain sense represent the moment of betrothal, the spring of vocation, the season of discovery … in which foundations are laid for the future. … Today the word of God speaks to us of mission. … What are the reference points of Christian mission? The readings we have heard suggest three: the joy of consolation, the Cross and prayer. (…) READ MORE
In this page we are invited to explore and expand our Consciousness of the reality of Slavery through Awareness, Compassion and Forgiveness.
As the gas industry opens up the north, generals and politicians are smuggling hundreds of tonnes of timber and ivory to China
As the booming trade in smuggled ivory and timber devastates northern Mozambique’s environment, Attorney General Augusto Paulino has launched an investigation into the claimed involvement of Agriculture Minister José Pacheco and his predecessor Tomás Mandlate. Both face accusations of involvement in timber smuggling in cahoots with Chinese companies. Both Pacheco and Mandlate deny all wrong doing. READ MORE
7 June 2013 • Vol 54 – N° 12 • Africa Confidential
Some time this year Serge presented on this blog my book: A Woman Like Mum, which is the second book after We Fought Wrong Fight, published in 2008. He asked me if there is another book coming, to write a few lines about it. Indeed, another one is coming and I want to present it here.
The working title is Rule of the Boorish. In this book I reflect on some elements that constitute our democracy in Zambia, concentrating especially on abuses, misconceptions that keep our Democracy immature and barren. There are five chapters.
In the first chapter I pose a question: Is Democracy the system of government best suited for Zambia today? We would also say, are Zambians ready for democracy? Here I make some reflections on events or cases that have made and are still making mockery of our democracy, from the point of view of politicians and also from that of the Zambian general public.
The second chapter, The sickness of our democracy, deals with our today’s crop of politicians, formation of political parties, Elections, Candidates, Campaigns, and voters: how do these elements, as we experience them in Zambia, render our democracy a sham?
Tribes as chronic Ulcer of Zambia, in this third chapter I dare to accuse our tribal identities as a rot in our democracy. The tribal organisation and its dynamics are an opposing force to national identity, and certainly do not render a good service to democracy. Here, I tackle also the question o f tribalism.
The fourth chapter: Perhaps It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Chiefs. Traditional authority is one institution that feeds on tribal identity and sometimes opposed to democracy by its character and manner of operation. Thus, either this institution accepts a thorough transformation or loses its place in today’s society.
In the fifth chapter I deal with something a bit off the line of democracy, Development. Here I propose a perspective of development in which everyone finds one’s place regardless of the work, business involvement or place. It is a people-propelled kind of development, and not the one brought by the government and often from without. Here, the government has only the role of facilitator, animator and motivator. Hence, it is not development or economic growth known only by intellectuals on paper but rather a development in the life of the people themselves based on local resources both material and human.
By the Rule of Boorish I am essentially proposing a forum, a debate, on our democracy in order to shape it ourselves in the manner that it answers our Zambian needs. With such background, I feel great liberty to throw out ideas without much inhibition for it is all about soliciting debate and exchange of ideas.
Well, Serge, this is the book project I’m working on. I cannot say when it will come out for there is still a rework to be done and as well as finding the funds for publishing.
Evans K. Chama, M.Afr