By Mwamba Peni
What happened to us as a people? Where is the spirit of Ubuntu? Is this what it means to be a Christian Nation? Celebrating that your fellow human being, in flesh and blood, has been taken to a Maximum prison? I must admit, I have never been an admirer of the guy and I may never be in this life time. Be that as it may, I feel for his young kids, wife and relatives. I can never celebrate that this is happening to him. I had a grand father once locked up in Chimbokaila, tear gassed at DEC, beaten up at radio Icengelo. I can only relate and feel the pain of those close to the family of the five because I have been there before.
Today, we have prison Ministries not because we condone the actions of convicts. We do it because they are our fellow human beings. We do it because it’s a biblical requirement on our part. And for someone who is not yet convicted, they deserve our compassion and not scorn, they deserve our love and not hate, they deserve our support and not condemnation.
I come from a strong Catholic background. I trained for the Roman Catholic for close to 8 years until I left on my own accord. I am not perfect but my Church and family inculcated very strong values in me during my formative years. One fundemental value I still cherish up to day is compassion towards those going through hard times regardless of my relationship with them.
As as nation we need to reflect on what happened to the values of Ubuntu. What happened to solidarity with those going through difficulties? Where has the place for compassion gone? Why do we take pleasure in the misfortunes of others? What does it mean to be a Christian Nation? The resentment we harbour against each other and the amount of time and ernegy we waste in destroying each other is sickening to say the least. Can we use that negative energy to appreciate diversity and build each other and ultimately our great nation?