• CONGREGANTS at the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Ipusukilo in Kitwe outside their church after irate members locked the entrance yesterday. Picture by MAYA NTANDA

By MAYA NTANDA –

MEMBERS of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) at Ipusukilo Congregation in Kitwe yesterday blocked the usual Sunday morning service protesting alleged misuse of funds by their leaders.
This forced several members to gather outside the church building in surprise to what had happened.
The members, who arrived for the 07:00 hours morning service, could not enter for prayers and remained outside for hours.
Some of the members interviewed during the confusion said their church leaders had refused to release financial records to verify expenditure regarding the K40,000 that was raised to expand the church building.
The congregants had contributed to church coffers over the past one year but were surprised that the project to expand the building had not taken place to date.
An aggrieved member, Macloudy Mbewe said the congregants were disappointed with the manner church funds were not properly accounted for.
He said the church leadership claimed that the documents could not be found, which the members felt was a mockery.
“We want to know the truth about the financial statements on contributions that we have been making towards the extension of the church, but they are telling us that the books are lost.
“It is very disappointing, especially that the members have been sacrificing so that the building can be expanded but the treasury has failed to account for the money,” he said.
Church Elder Lucky Mubanga, who addressed the congregants after the building was opened with the intervention of a police officer, urged the members to remain united.
He asked for forgiveness over what had transpired and assured the members that the issue would be addressed amicably.