The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
December 18, 2001
Posted to the web December 18, 2001

MMD presidential candidate Levy Mwanawasa’s wife, Maureen, has been excommunicated as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Mrs Mwanawasa, a baptised member of the Jehovah’s witnesses, has been excommunicated because of the couple’s involvement in active politics.

The couple is now considering which religion to join, but would not rush into making the decision.

Speaking during yesterday’s Radio Phoenix interview with Frank Mutubila, Mr Mwanawasa revealed that his wife had been excommunicated.

Mr Mwanawasa said as a family, they had accepted the decision but said they were disappointed because they did not expect it. He said it was a surprise decision.

Mr Mwanawasa, who is not a baptised Jehovah’s Witness, said the decision by the church to excommunicate his wife symbolised that they were not wanted in that religious fraternity.

He said they wanted to stay on in the church but saw that it would not be possible, going by the move to have his wife excommunicated.

He however said that although Zambia was declared as a Christian nation, all other religions would continue having a fair share of the country’s base.

“Zambia will remain a Christian nation but that does not mean that other people should not pursue other religions,” he said, adding that he would not revisit the declaration.

Mr Mwanawasa also said he believed in the participation of everybody in the country’s politics, without undue interference.

Referring to a question on his participation in politics contrary to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr Mwanawasa, before revealing the action against his wife, said the Bible recognised respect for civic authority.

He said he had often referred to Romans Chapter 13 verses 1-7 which particularly discussed how civic authority shall be respected.

The MMD presidential hopeful explained that even Jehovah’s Witnesses applied for national registration cards (NRCs) and saw no reason why they should not obtain voters’ cards.

Mr Mwanawasa also restated his position on the death penalty saying his personal conviction on the matter would never change.

He said he did not support the death penalty because it was arbitrary and that two wrongs would not give a person a correct situation.

He cited cases of convicted persons who, while in prison, reformed to be born-again Christians and questioned why they should be killed.