Church body backs Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa as traditional healers object to his crackdown on illegal adverts

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has urged Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa not to be deterred by reported threats from traditional health practitioners over his campaign to clean up the city. EFZ Executive Director Reverend Allan Kasungami said the church backs the mayor's initiatives and will keep praying for him. "The mayor should not be intimidated by such threats because he is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ," he said. He urged those opposed to the initiatives to engage in dialogue instead of intimidation. Pastor Kenny Nsakilwa of the Triumphant Church of All Nations said differences in religious and traditional beliefs should not block cooperation. He called on traditional practitioners, civic leaders and residents to settle disagreements peacefully. The dispute began with the council's removal of posters. On 7 October, a traditional healer from Kanyama, Edward Mwanamunyati, said the removals had hurt his trade: "My business has become slow because the posters are being removed." He asked the Lusaka City Council to meet healers and agree on areas where they may advertise. On 21 October, the president of the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia, Dr Rodwell Vongo, urged the mayor to be careful with spiritual matters and not to approach them solely from a physical perspective. He also said the association supports government efforts to protect citizens and is ready to help identify people who falsely present themselves as legitimate healers. The mayor answered the same day. He said the crackdown targets unauthorised and misleading adverts on trees, public infrastructure and other undesignated places, and is not an attack on traditional medicine or any belief. He said the council removes illegal adverts whoever places them, and that exempting spiritual ones would be discriminatory. He criticised adverts that promise to bring back lost lovers, guarantee exam success or create instant wealth. "There is no such thing as miracle money