By ESTHER NG’ANDU –
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THE Seventh Day Adventist Church has been challenged to deal with a concerning rise of politicisation within its ranks which a minister has warned could lead to anarchy.
Infrastructure and Development Minister Ronald Chitotela said in Kitwe yesterday political groupings were emerging within SDA in various parts of Zambia and challenged church leaders to seriously begin denouncing the development.
Speaking in Kitwe on Saturday during a church service at Buchi SDA congregation where he donated K10, 000 towards the building of the church, he said the emergence of political factions in the SDA church was a formula for anarchy.
“Honestly, l am not ashamed to mention to you that there are so many political groupings within the SDA which is raising much concern and disappointment. The Church leadership across the country needs to begin to denounce this engagement in politics by the members,” he said.
Mr Chitotela, who is also an elder in the SDA said it was clear that the groupings were allied either to the Patriotic Front (PF) or the United Party for National Development (UPND).
He said there is need for the SDA leadership to preach unity among members, regardless of their political affiliations as the role of the Church was to pray for the Government and advise it where it was seen to be straying.
He warned against conflicts of division between the Church and Government.
Speaking before the minister, SDA Copperbelt Conference Executive Secretary Christopher Mwampokota called for unity in the church.
He acknowledged there were political divisions within the Church and called for unity, saying members must always follow the biblical principles of love and unity.
Meanwhile, the Government is this week set to release K62 million to contractors working on various infrastructure projects across the country.
Mr Chitotela said was meant to help contractors progress their projects to 80 percent completion.
He said the ministry wanted to see as much progress on infrastructure works as possible before the next rainy season.
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