Zambia: Diocesan Catholic clergy in Livingstone Diocese welcome workshop on Safeguarding

Fr Johnson Kalembwe – Livingstone

The Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (AZADCC) in Zambia’s Livingstone Diocese recently held a leadership and child safeguarding training workshop for Catholic diocesan clergy. The sessions, facilitated under the auspices of the Diocese of Livingstone, were led by Father Imasiku Ngalama Mwanamulena IV, a diocesan priest and the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy Focal Point Person, together with Father John Damascene Rurangwa, the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator.

Strengthening Safeguarding

The workshop sought to sharpen local diocesan clergy awareness by strengthening protection protocols, leadership accountability, and safe environments within parishes and community structures in the diocese.

In attendance were several diocesan priests of the Diocese of Livingstone.

The workshop programme, part of the mandatory orientation on the Livingstone Diocese Safeguarding Policy, was well received by the local clergy. The priests expressed interest in the updated scope of the Safeguarding Policy in the diocese.

Father Imasiku Ngalama Mwanamulena IV, at the Livingstone Diocese Safeguarding workshop 5 of 38 assets

Correct information and protocols

Speaking at the workshop, Father Gregory Chabala, the Parish Priest of St. Fidelis Parish in Sichili and the Livingstone Diocese president of the Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (AZADCC), commended the organisers.

“We hope by the end of the workshop the priests may have the correct information on the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy. This workshop is very important because it will help us understand the reporting channels for the abused and exploited. Additionally, this workshop should also be organised for our Lay faithful leaders and other religious men and women working in the diocese,” said Fr Chabala.