Zambian churches: Discussion on use of condoms

Use of condoms is the easiest way to sin, said Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) secretary general Fr. Ignitius Mwebe on April 4. Reacting to Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) chairman Reverend David Masupa's call for the Church to allow Christians who are not morally strong to use condoms, Fr. Mwebe said the use of condoms was not the best way of fighting HIV/AIDS. He said it was wrong for the Church to preach the use of condoms because it was against its mission. He said the Church's primary mission was to promote Gospel values. "It is wrong for the Church to admit that human beings are weak and encourage the use of the easiest way to sin," said Fr. Mwebe.

Similarly, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) secretary general Bishop Paul Mususu said the Church was for abstinence and not promiscuity. "We believe that there is enough campaign for condom use by other organisations," Bishop Mususu said. "We cannot teach both abstinence and condom use at the same time." Bishop Mususu said the Church could do better to teach morality. Also Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu spoke out against the use of condoms.

Rev. Masupa on Wednesday had said, however, the Church would be very unfair not to allow Christians, who were not morally strong, to use condoms. He said not even the Church had been spared by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Rev. Masupa said those who knew that they were weak or were at a high risk of getting infected should use condoms to protect their lives.

Statistics indicate that the HIV-AIDS prevalence between 30 to 35 per cent in Zambia's Sesheke District. (The Post, Lusaka)