The Betrayal of Social Change
Jubilee Centre December 31st, 2007
The on going violence in Kenya over delayed results from the presidential elections and here in Zambia the physical attack on Mrs. Faustina Sinyangwe the Patriotic Front Party (PF) Member of Parliament all point to one yearning. The promise of democracy, of human rights, of justice, of basic respect and morality that once seemed inherent with the turn of the 1990s’ has not been fulfilled. For the case of Kenya there is the fear by the opposition parties that the presidential elections may have been rigged. The concern by the opposition is that the electoral system is fraudulently in support of the government in power therefore, they have nowhere to appeal.
The frustration by those responding with violence is that the goal to end poverty which was an explicit promise by those currently holding political power has been met only erratically. Political freedom does not take a nation far unless there is economic freedom. Former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru once stated, “Indeed there is no such thing as freedom for a man who is starving or for a country which is poor.” Both Kenya and Zambia have been recording significant economic growth, but the benefits have not spread to the millions living in poverty.
For PF, the bottom line is that the urban poor who are the majority voters are alarmed that their Members of Parliament are entrenching their positions of privilege by accepting to serve on the National Constitution Conference. The apprehension by the people is that the MPs serving on the NCC are receiving allowances of $300 (minimum) per day when the majority of Zambians live on less than $1 per day. Therefore, the violent reaction by the people living in poverty is more to do with all the political elites who have neglected the welfare of the majority for their own personal prosperity than it is with the opposition leaders of political parties.
Many would argue and rightly so, that most of the violence being experienced is as a result of the condition of the human heart which is bent towards evil-as we saw on television, people looting shops and peoples’ homes in Kenya. But we would also argue that the violence being experienced has as much to do with the African democratic and free market process that mainly prospers government leaders and tribal members, Members of Parliament and the foreign ethnic minority business people.
If most would agree, the violence being unleashed is mostly to do with the heart of man which is “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9
), then Christians must also agree that the church is a major player to restrain the disparaging aspects in our nations. Those of us who agree must go out next year with a passion of compassion and justice and with mission strategies that will help churches serving in poor communities. We must support them in how to engage their communities and individuals in ways that take care of themselves, make them become more just, enable them identify leaders that are compassionate and just and allow them hold elected leaders and business institutions accountable. Building values in people who have suffered poverty, oppression and indignity for so long is no simple matter. But when the compelling reason is Christ, nothing is impossible (Matthew 17:20). Is the church in Africa ready for the long walk? We have no alternative if we are to protect our nations from instability.
Lawrence Temfwe
