PRESS STATEMENT BY THE THREE CHURCH MOTHER BODIES

19th March, 2025

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133: 1)

PREAMBLE

We, the leaders of the Church Mother bodies namely the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Download the entire Three Church Mother Bodies Speak out On Political Landscape - March 2025 here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/three-church-mother-bodies-speakout-on-political-landscape.pdf

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2025 YOUTH DAY COMMEMORATION UNDER THE THEME: "VOICES AMPLIFIED AND INNOVATIONS IGNITED".

Today, on Youth Day 2025, we unequivocally demand greater recognition, inclusion, and empowerment for young people across Zambia. The future of our nation depends on harnessing the boundless creativity, passion, and innovative ideas of our youth. Their voices must no longer remain on the sidelines but must lead conversations and influence decisions that shape their lives and communities.

Download the entire CARITAS Zambia 2025 Youth Day Commemoration Statement Under The Theme "Voices Amplified And Innovations Ignited" here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/caritas-zambia-youth-day-commemoration-statement-2025.pdf

ABSTRACT

This report examines how mining revenues have flowed from mining companies to local governments in meeting community developmental priorities. Issues include governance inefficiencies, limited citizen participation, and the increasing disparities in mining revenue knowledge by the communities. Non-compliance by some mining companies exacerbates social and economic inequalities, leaving communities in persistent poverty. The study advocates holistic solutions, emphasizing the importance of compliance, governance, transparency, and community involvement. Conclusions stress transparency, collaboration, and community engagement as core principles. Recommendations aim to foster an inclusive and accountable mining sector, achieving fairer distribution of benefits and reducing negative impacts for sustainable community well-being.

Download the entire Caritas Tracking How Mining Resources Have Flowed To Local Councils To Meet Local Development Priorities - Technical Study here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/Caritas-Tracking-How-Mining-Resources-Have-Flowed-Technical-Study.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The issue of mining revenues not benefiting host communities is a critical concern. Many of these communities are facing high levels of poverty, currently at 60%, and inadequate developmental progress, despite significant financial contributions to government entities through levies and payments.

Download the entire Caritas Tracking How Mining Resources Have Flowed To Local Councils To Meet Local Development Priorities - Summary Report here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/Caritas-Tracking-How-Mining-Resources-Have-Flowed-Summary-Report.pdf

CARITAS Zambia PRESS STATEMENT For Immediate Release

Date: 24th October 2024.

ZAMBIA@60: HONORING OUR HERITAGE, EMBRACING OUR FUTURE THROUGH INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Today, as Zambia celebrates 60 years of independence under the theme “60 Years Strong: Honoring Our Heritage, Embracing Our Future,” Caritas Zambia proudly joins the nation in reflecting on six decades of resilience, unity, and progress. This milestone not only marks our freedom from colonial rule but also serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all Zambians.

At Caritas Zambia, we are deeply committed to advancing integral human development—an approach that recognizes the importance of fostering human dignity, improving livelihoods, and promoting the holistic well-being of individuals and communities. In line with the Independence Day theme, we see this moment as an opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to both honoring our heritage and embracing our future.

Honoring Our Heritage

Our heritage is rich with values that have sustained Zambia’s people for generations: community, compassion, and stewardship of our natural resources. These are the very principles that guide our work in supporting rural communities, promoting agroecological practices, and preserving the cultural and social foundations of our nation.

We pay tribute to the wisdom of our ancestors and their commitment to working together for the common good. Their example reminds us that progress must be measured not just by economic growth but by how we care for one another, ensure equitable opportunities, and respect the environment we all depend on.

Our programmes are designed to empower communities through participatory development, recognizing that the solutions to today’s challenges lie in the resilience and knowledge of our people.

Embracing Our Future

As we look ahead, we must remain committed to shaping a future where every Zambian has the opportunity to thrive. Embracing our future means embracing innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. At Caritas Zambia, we believe that development must be inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind—whether it is through promoting gender equality, enhancing access to education, or supporting youth empowerment.

Our vision for Zambia’s future is one of sustainable development, where economic advancement goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship. By empowering communities with the skills and resources to adapt to climate change and engage in sustainable agricultural practices, we are contributingto to a Zambia where future generations can live in harmony with the land.

A Call to Action

As we celebrate Zambia’s 60th Independence Day, we urge all citizens, civil society organizations, government leaders, and the private sector to reflect on how we can work together to build a Zambia that reflects our shared aspirations. We invite everyone to join us in creating a future rooted in justice, peace, and dignity for all. Let us honor our rich heritage by safeguarding it for future generations. Let us embrace our future by investing in people and ensuring that the progress we make today benefits every Zambian tomorrow.

Happy 60th Independence Day, Zambia!!

Caritas Executive Director

Fr. Dr. Gabriel Mapulanga

Download the entire signed copy of the Zambia@60: Honoring Our Heritage, Embracing Our Future Through Integral Human Development Press Statement here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Zambia-60-Honoring-Our-Heritage-Embracing-Our-Future-Through-Integral-Human-Development.pdf

CARITAS ZAMBIA’S SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON BUDGET ANALYSIS HEAD 86 MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESOCK AND HEAD 89 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

1. Introduction

We would like to recommend the Zambian Government for their tireless effort in ensuring that it provides needed resources to bring about development in the country and improve the welfare of the people of Zambia. The 2025 budget has notably seen an increase in so many sectors and most importantly to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock including Ministry of Agriculture.

Caritas Zambia in this submission will analyse the Financing of the 2025 budget and allocation of funds per Head and its programmes and the implications of such allocation.

Download the entire CARITAS Zambia’s Submission To The Parliamentary Committee On Agriculture, Lands And Natural Resources here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/CARITAS-Submission-to-Parliamentary-Committee-Agriculture-Lands-Natural-Resources.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Predicated on the national, regional, and international frameworks on disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation and the attendant enabling legal provisions for disaster management and mitigation, this report is based on the study conducted in the Dioceses across the ten (10) provinces to formulate an emergency Preparedness, Response and mitigation Plan, which is a critical tool aimed at guiding the Dioceses in preserving lives, protecting properties and the environment in an emergency.

Recognising the complex intersectionality of societies for which the plan is designed to serve, the study extended its catchment to include children so that the plan will be sensitive and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable marginalized section of the population especially children, women, and people living with disability. It has been recognised that children and women are the most affected by disasters when they happen. Thus, the plan is envisaged to be a purview for actioning disaster preparedness and response measures for Dioceses in their jurisdictions for levelling up efforts to contribute to reduced vulnerabilities, while enhancing coping capacities and building resilience of exposed and susceptible communities to climatic and disaster risks.

Therefore, this Plan delivers a two-prong disaster management and mitigation strategy to amplify the adverse impacts of disaster and climatic shocks on children and vulnerable groups and provide recommendations on how they can be protected and recover from disaster and climatic shocks and how Dioceses and communities' capacities can be up-scaled in handling complexities and differential impact on communities arising from increased disaster occurrences.

Download the entire Caritas Zambia's Emergency Preparedness, Response and Mitigation (EPRM) Plan here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/Caritas-Zambia-Emergency-Preparedness-Response-and-Mitigation-EPRM-Plan.pdf

Published by Caritas Africa, March 2024.

Download the entire Fraternal Cooperation In The Context Of Localisation And Decolonisation here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/Fraternal-Cooperation-In-The-Context-Of-Localisation-And-Decolonisation.pdf

Published by Caritas Africa, March 2024.

Download the entire Rethinking Humanitarian and Development Assistance in Africa here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/Rethinking-Humanitarian-and-Development-Assistance-in-Africa.pdf

An assessment for the inclusion of agroecology in Zambia's agricultural and agricultural-related policies.

"An agro-ecological approach always becomes a social approach that integrates questions of justice in debates of the environment and hears both the cry of the earth and that of the poor" - Caritas Zambia Policy brief, March 2023.

Download the entire Agroecology – A Sustainable Farming System For Zambian Farmers here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/policy_briefs/Policy-Brief-Agro-ecology.pdf