Zambia: mounting Church-state tensions as Church blamed for Rwandan genocide
August 13, 2009
Tensions between the Church and the Zambian government have increased after the nation’s information minister, Lt. Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha, for helping foment the Rwandan genocide that left an estimated 800,000 dead in 1994. Shikapwasha-- whose government has clashed recently with the Church over freedom of the press-- said that the Church in Rwanda “blindly sided with some newspapers and radio stations, which allegedly fanned out falsehoods and propaganda.” The Zambian bishops’ conference immediately demanded an apology.
The nation of 12 million is 31% Catholic.
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Further information:
- Priest urges Zambian official to resign after remarks about church (CNS)
- Zambian bishops defend freedom of the press following journalist’s arrest (CWN, Jul 21)
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