Given Mutinta

25/01/2024

THE SEAL OF CONFESSION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

In the Roman Catholic Church, the sacrament of confession is important for making amends with God for sins committed.

In the privacy of a "confession box," Catholics are encouraged to confess their sins to a priest, with the understanding that their confessions will remain confidential.

This "seal of confession," according to the Catholic Church, is a sacred obligation for priests who are bound by the doctrines and teachings of the Church.

The question, however, is whether a Roman Catholic priest can divulge sins confessed in the confession box.

From an ethical perspective, the answer is no because confidentiality is a cornerstone of any counselling or therapeutic relationship. It fosters trust, openness, and the freedom to express one's deepest struggles without fear of judgement or the potential for negative consequences.

The Catholic Church has always maintained the view that the seal of confession is inviolable or unbreakable when it comes to confession.

For this reason, the Catholic Church teaches that it is a crime for a confessor, priest, or bishop in any way to betray a penitent or "confessee" by word, in any other manner, or for any reason, which clearly affirms the sacrament's complete confidentiality.

Therefore, Catholics who ask for forgiveness can rest assured that their sins will be kept confidential because of this moral obligation.

Legally, the seal of confession has also been recognized and protected by many jurisdictions. It is considered a legally recognised privilege, similar to attorney-client privilege or doctor-patient confidentiality.

In some countries, such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), priests are protected by laws that prohibit them from disclosing any information related to the confessions they hear.

These legal protections highlight the importance society places on maintaining the confidentiality of spiritual counselling.

Religiously, the sanctity of confession is deeply rooted in Catholic doctrine. The Catholic Church teaches that the seal of confession is absolute and that no external circumstances should ever justify its violation.

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, confession is an encounter between the penitent, or a Catholic confessing sins, and God. Acting in what is known as “persona Christi” in Latin, which translates to "in the person of Christ," the priest mediates between parties and merely acts as a conduit for God's forgiveness and mercy.

Therefore, the information disclosed in the confession box is understood to be between the penitent, or confessee, and God alone.

But the sanctity of the confession faces difficulties when it comes to circumstances pertaining to other people's security and welfare.

Priests occasionally struggle with learning about an individual's actions. For instance, a man confesses to a priest about having multiple affairs. Later, the adulterous man's wife seeks counselling from the same priest because she thinks her husband is having extramarital affairs.

In another scenario, a woman comes clean and says in the confession box that she poisoned her best friend in order to marry her friend's wealthy husband, but her identity as the murderer eluded police investigations.

Is it possible for a Catholic priest to tell the adulterous husband's wife about his adulterous behaviour or to tell the police who killed the woman whose death they were investigating?

The answer is that sins confessed cannot be revealed by a priest.

The moral obligation to stand for the truth can create tension between the duty of maintaining confidentiality and the responsibility to make the truth known.

Nevertheless, in such cases, the Church instructs priests to encourage the penitent to reveal their sins outside of the confession box and take appropriate actions to ensure reparation.

In conclusion, the Roman Catholic Church reveres the seal of confession, recognising its inviolability. Priests are ethically, legally, and religiously obligated to maintain confidentiality. In exceptional cases, priests may guide penitents to reveal their sins outside the confession box. Balancing confidentiality and protection is a delicate ethical and moral duty for Roman Catholic priests to navigate.

01/01/2024

STATE-RUN AGRICULTURAL BANK

Agriculture is the backbone of Zambia's economy, and it is important to provide adequate financial support to farmers for sustained growth and development.

To achieve this, a State-run agricultural bank is something worth considering.

This bank can cater to farmers' financial needs, providing them with resources to enhance productivity and ensure food security.

The United Party for National Developmen (UPND)'s philosophy, which stresses agriculture as a major engine of the nation's growth and development, makes a State-run agricultural bank a viable business model.

We need a State-run agricultural bank to offer tailored financial products and services that cater to farmers' unique challenges, ensuring they have access to capital for investment in agricultural activities, modern farming equipment, and new technologies.

Since agriculture is vulnerable to risks like weather uncertainty and market fluctuations, it should also offer financial stability. For the agricultural sector to continue operating, a State-run bank can be vital in providing emergency loans and other financial support during hard times or natural disasters.

Small and marginalised farmers can be helped to enter the formal financial system by a State-run agricultural bank, which can offer flexible repayment terms and reasonable interest rates.

A State-run agricultural bank can also act as a hub for the exchange of information about agriculture, providing direction on contemporary farming methods, crop diversification, and environmentally friendly farming practices.

In order to give farmers, the abilities and information they need to enhance their farming methods and raise yield and profitability, the bank can also provide training and capacity-building initiatives.

Lastly, a State-run agricultural bank has the potential to enhance the general economic expansion and advancement of rural regions by generating job opportunities, promoting rural entrepreneurship, and fostering socio-economic advancement.

This can, therefore, result in lower rates of poverty and higher living standards for people living in rural areas.

However, State-run agricultural banks are not without challenges that can hinder their ability to effectively support the agricultural sector.

Limited government funding, bureaucratic inefficiencies, good governance issues, loan defaults, and technological limitations are some of the key challenges that can impede the effectiveness of a State-run agricultural bank.

Therefore, a State-run agricultural bank model able to address these challenges can be crucial in promoting sustainable agricultural development and supporting the livelihoods of farmers. This may require reforms in governance and management practices, increased financial support, and the adoption of modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the bank.

Without reforms, a State-run agricultural bank risks collapsing like the Agricultural Finance Company (AFC), which was founded to give farmers equipment, capital, and technical support; Lima Bank, which was founded with the best of intentions but passed away suddenly; and the Co-operative Bank, which was founded with great fanfare about how it would transform the agricultural industry but had a brief existence.

In brief, the UPND led government should consider making an investment in the foundation of a State-run agricultural bank as a vital tool for promoting the agricultural sector's continued growth and development.

25/12/2023

CHRISTMAS TREE

Without a doubt, one of the most recognisable symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree, which can be found in both public and private spaces.

The Christmas tree has a long history that goes back thousands of years, and numerous cultural and religious influences have helped to shape it into the beloved tradition it is today.

Christmas is a Christian holiday, but the custom of decorating evergreen trees for the winter months predates it. Ancient cultures, including the Romans, Egyptians, and Celts, held the evergreen tree in high regard as a representation of fertility, eternal life, and protection from evil spirits. The winter solstice, which fell on the shortest day of the year and signalled the slow return of daylight, was a very important occasion in pagan tradition. Evergreen trees and boughs were brought inside, and homes were adorned with candles and other decorations in observance of this celestial event, which is symbolic of hope and rebirth.

The Christmas tree later became a part of Christian tradition in mediaeval Germany. That is why the saying goes that Germany invented the Christmas tree, just like it did the PhD, car, aspirin, printing press, railway, computer, and x-ray and they became globally recognised.

The Christmas tree tradition evolved over the ages, eventually travelling from Europe to North America via the Atlantic. German immigrants are credited with bringing the Christmas tree to America in the eighteenth century, when it quickly gained popularity as a symbol of the Christmas season. However, through Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Germany in the nineteenth century, the Christmas tree became more and more popular in England. A photo of the royal family gathered around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that appeared in The Illustrated London News in 1848 ignited a trend that would soon be followed by homes across the English-speaking world.

The modern Christmas tree is full of symbolic meaning and cultural customs. Because of its resilient foliage that remains green throughout the winter, the evergreen tree is a symbol of enduring life and the expectation of the arrival of spring. Decorating the tree with lights, garlands, and other ornaments represents the joy and abundance of the holiday season. The custom of putting an angel or star atop the tree serves as a reminder to many households of the Star of Bethlehem and the angels who announced the birth of Christ.

These days, the Christmas tree holds a special place in the hearts of people from many different cultures and religions. Its religious and historical origins have been transcended over time to become a universal symbol of joy, cosiness, and the spirit of the holidays. The tradition of selecting and adorning one's own Christmas tree, the lighting of public trees in cities, and the display of elaborately decorated trees in stores have all become integral parts of the festive celebrations that come to an end each year.

In short, the history of the Christmas tree is a tapestry composed of cultural customs, Christian symbolism, and ancient pagan rites. Its evolution from a beloved symbol of holiday cheer to a revered depiction of nature's tenacity shows the enduring value of tradition and the human need to find meaning and joy in the changing of the seasons.

As we gather around the Christmas tree each year, we engage in a time-honoured custom that connects us to the past generations and to the spirit of hope and rebirth that unites us in celebration.

Happy Christmas!

24/12/2023

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UPND SECRETARY GENERAL BATUKE IMENDA TO SUPPORT PARTY CADRES

Dear Mr Batuke Imenda - UPND Secretary General

I'm writing to express the United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres' cry for party support.

To ensure the UPND's continued success and stability, your office needs to support party cadres.

You must be well aware that party cadres are the foundation of any political party since they manage the organisation's day-to-day affairs and garner the support of the electorate.

The UPND would not have won the 2021 elections without the commitment and diligence of party cadres, and without them, the party will struggle to maintain its influence on the ground and accomplish its goals.

Sir, create party strategies to support cadres. They play a critical role in mobilising party support, organising events, interacting with potential members, and spreading the party's message. They frequently act as the party's public face.

It is both politically naive and inconsiderate to argue that party cadres should not receive support and should instead compete with "others" for national opportunities.

It is not "others", but party cadres that put their lives in danger to both save and serve the party during the previous brutal regime for the UPND to win elections.

It is the party cadres who uphold the ideology of your party who will work for the party towards and during 2026 elections, not "others".

It was by supporting cadres that the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), and the Patriotic Front (PF) had dedicated individuals and a strong and effective presence in the community, which was essential for building grassroots support and winning elections.

It is unjust to expect party cadres to continue devoting their time, effort, and resources to party activities in the absence of support. To keep party members' enthusiasm and morale high, cadres require support.

It is imperative that the UPND party leadership at the party level express gratitude for the hard work and dedication of cadres, as they work in an extremely demanding and selfless role as seen before and during 2021 elections.

It is perfectly acceptable to give party cadres resources, recognition, and training. This is one surefire method used by political parties all over the world to make sure their members never lose their drive and dedication to furthering the party's principles and objectives.

Providing support to party cadres is essential for ensuring the development of future leaders within the party. Cadres are often the most closely involved in party activities, and they have the potential to become the next generation of party leaders.

By investing in the development and growth of party cadres, the party can ensure that it has a strong pipeline of talent and leadership for the future.

It is therefore indisputable that the UPND's stability and success depend on its ability to support party cadres. As such, it is imperative that the party leadership give cadres support and development top priority.

Sincerely Yours
Given Mutinta

29/03/2022

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08/03/2022

YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOUR IN KWAZULU-NATAL

Dr Nelisiwe Khuzwayo and her colleagues from the Discipline of Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal argue that youth behaviour in South Africa continues to be a public health concern and conducted a study to assess the impact of a behavioural youth risk reduction intervention among grade 10 learners.

The Study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal high schools, at UMgungundlovu District Municipality.

These scholars used a cluster randomised controlled trial at 16 KwaZulu-Natal high schools where learners completed a self- administered questionnaire assessing youth risk behaviours. Schools were divided into two arms, intervention and a control arms.

Results show that intervention reduced learners’ reports of carrying of a weapon to school in the past 30 days, but did not significantly reduce other assessed risk behaviours. Although the intervention appeared more likely to reduce learners’ risk behaviours when compared to the control group, such as carrying weapons, risky sexual behaviour and alcohol and drug abuse.

08/03/2022

PERSPECTIVES ON COMMERCIAL LEGALISATION OF MA*****NA

Dr Emmanuel Manu from the Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe in Ghana and his colleagues conducted a study study aimed to solicit the views of illegal ma*****na growers and traders from two selected communities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa regarding the commercial legalisation of ma*****na cultivation and trading to inform policy on the debate.

In-depth key informant interview approach was used to interview 18 purposively sampled participants that were selected through the snowball sampling technique.

Results show that participants had both positive and negative perceptions of the possible legalisation of ma*****na cultivation and trading. On the positive side, participants indicated freedom from police, the opportunity to grow ma*****na on a larger scale, capital acquisition for commercial ma*****na cultivation and trading, and regulation of ma*****na prices through unionisation as some of the benefits they would derive from the commercial legalisation of ma*****na cultivation and trading. On the negative side, loss of their source of livelihood, fall in the price of ma*****na and perceived increase in school drop-out rates were the concerns raised.

In conclusion, while participants relished improvement in their economic fortunes upon commercial legalisation of ma*****na cultivation and trading, they were also apprehensive about this policy due to the perceived consequences it may have on their livelihoods and communities.

The study therefore, recommends that future discussions of the commercial legalisation of ma*****na cultivation and trading in South Africa should be done in consultation with illicit ma*****na growers and traders to ensure that their interests are safeguarded by such a policy.

08/03/2022

COVID-19 VACCINE ACCEPTANCE AND HESITANCY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Professor Charles Shey Wiysonge who is the Director of Cochrane South Africa at the South African Medical Research Council and his colleagues assessed willingness to accept vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers at the start of South Africa’s vaccination roll-out.

The study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey among healthcare workers in Cape Town and assessed predictors of vaccination intentions.

The study recruited 395 participants; 64% women, 49% nurses, and 13% physicians. Of these, 59.0% would accept and 41.0% were vaccine hesitant namely would either refuse or were unsure whether they would accept COVID-19 vaccination. People who did not trust that COVID-19 vaccines are effective were the most hesitant. Older participants and physicians were more likely to accept vaccination than younger participants and other healthcare workers respectively. Other predictors of vaccine acceptance were trust that vaccines are compatible with religion, consideration of benefits and risks of vaccination, willingness to be vaccinated to protect others, and viewing vaccination as a collective action for COVID-19 control.

In conclusion, the study argues that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is high among healthcare workers in Cape Town. Reducing hesitancy would require trust-building interventions, including tailored education.

16/01/2022

SELF MEDICATION AMONG STUDENTS

Self-medication is a common practice and cause for concern globally. There is a paucity of information regarding students’ self‑medication in South Africa. Therefore, Dr Anthony Moore from the University of Cape Town conducted a study to determine the self‑medication practices among students.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 students.

Majority of the students reported self-medicating.

Reasons for self-medicating were the presence of long queues at health facilities, mild sickness and lack of time to visit physicians.

In this study, the year and field of study were reported to influence self-medicating with those in their 4th year of study and in the discipline of health sciences being more likely to self-medicate.

The study pointed to the need for students to be educated on the consequences of self-medication practices especially the rational use of antibiotics.

16/01/2022

COVID-19 MYTHS, MISCONCEPTIONS, OTHERING AND STIGMATISATION

A collaborative study between scholars from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and University of Cape Town (UCT) explored South African communities' misconceptions about who is most vulnerable to Covid-19.

A rapid qualitative assessment was conducted remotely in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa.

Recruitment of study participants took place through established relationships with civil society organizations and contacts made by researchers. In total, 60 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion was conducted.

The results show a high level of awareness and knowledge of the transmission and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Data revealed that there is awareness of elderly people and those with immunocompromised conditions being more vulnerable to catching Covid-19. However, misconceptions of being protected against the virus or having low or no risk were also evident in the data.

The study found that false information circulated on social media not only instigated confusion, fear and panic, but also contributed to the construction of misconceptions, othering and stigmatizing responses to Covid-19.

The study findings bring attention to the importance of developing communication materials adapted to specific communities to help reduce misconceptions, othering and stigmatization around Covid-19.

05/01/2022