Rumbek Catholic Bishop says Kwaje’s death is great loss
By Manyang Mayom
August 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Bishop of Rumbek Diocese (DOR), Catholic Lordship Caesar Mazzolari, has said that he considers the late Dr. Samson Kwaje a personal friend, describing him as a man of the people.
Mazzolari told Sudan Tribune that the death of Kwaje an icon for the entire country of Sudan as well as for Southern Sudan whereby Kwaje become most “tremendous amount of experience”, with great talent of being strong patriotic to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
“Kwaje was not selfish man – he was not building his own kingdom – this man was for people and always ready to serve people and his words are for hope,” said Mazzolari.
He also added that Kwaje loved this country with excellent talent he had offerred to SPLA/M during the days of SPLA struggle in bush.
The bishop also described the late Minister of Agriculture as always peace-making and a giver of hope. The bishop recalled him for his role in the establishment of Bakhita Radio when he was serving as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in GoSS, saying that the late Kwaje encouraged the Comboni missionary family to see beyond the obstacles and keep focused on establishing the radio station in Juba.
Kwaje died on Sunday in Nairobi due to what was described as “kidney complications”. His body arrived in Juba on Tuesday and is expected to be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Lainya County on Friday.
TAKING PART IN THE REFERENDUM IS A SIGN OF LOYALTY
Meanwhile, the church official has said that taking part in the referendum for Southern Sudan is a sign of nationalism, describing it as a moral obligation. In a letter addressed to all church personnel of Rumbek Diocese, the Bishop called upon the church personnel to get involved in the process of the referendum, not as spectators, but rather as “makers of the referendum”.
Speaking to Catholic local FM-89 FM, Mazzolari said that he has written a letter which origin in the present moment of the process towards the Referendum. Mazzolari affirmed that they leadership of Catholic Church has taken the issue of the referendum very seriously
He further described churches involvement in the referendum as a moral obligation and a personal duty of conscience, saying that it is not “an option or volunteering act.”
The bishop revealed that the feast of Christ the King November will be marked in a special way with the presence of the Catholic bishops of Sudan in Rumbek.
The “101 Days of Prayer for Peace” initiative is organized by Solidarity with Southern Sudan (SSS) through the sponsorship of Catholic Relief Service (CRS). CRS is also sponsoring Civic Education program towards the referendum in all the Catholic Dioceses of Sudan.
(ST)