By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
COUNCIL of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has called on the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs to enforce the regulation on churches.
CCZ general secretary Suzanne Matale said this should be done in accordance with the Society’s Act CAP 119 to ensure that churches operating in the country were controlled to protect citizens from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as miracle performers.
Reverend Matale bemoaned the levels of desperation among many Zambians for miracles performed by self-proclaimed prophets and pastors.

REV. MATALE

She noted with sadness high cases of criminality perpetuated by self-proclaimed prophets and pastors who had continued to abuse their followers by demanding huge amounts of money and sexual favours in exchange for miracles.
Rev Matale said Christianity was a dignified religion whose followers must live according to the order of the Bible which offered direction, advice and wisdom on matters of spirituality.
“We, therefore, appeal to the people of Zambia to desist from chasing after miracles in an effort to break free from bondage associated with social economic pressures, which has raised the need for quick answers,” she said.
Rev Matale further cautioned people to heed to Biblical teachings according to the gospel in the book of Mathew, which gives a timely warning for people to be on guard.
She said the book of Mathew further tells people to watch against false prophets in the end times who had come in people’s midst as wolves in sheep’s skin.
Last week, Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) overseer Peter Ndlovu called for stringent measures to help regulate the influx of fake prophets in the country and that there was need to bring sanity in the Christian circles by fishing out fake prophets who were misleading innocent people.
Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili also noted with concern the number of individuals masquerading as men of God and misleading people with various practices.
She said due to this, her ministry had engaged their Home Affairs counterparts and Church mother bodies to ensure that there was sanity in the Church, and that her ministry would move in and arrest the situation so that the Church could operate within the stipulated legal framework.