Twelve bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, the...

Twelve bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, the biggest Christian denomination in Zambia, called on Lusaka to scrap the death penalty from its new constitution.
President Levy Mwanawasa has come out against the death penalty but said he would not outlaw it without first holding broad consultations with Zambians who are divided on the issue.
The bishops said in a statement that they were speaking on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church in taking an abolitionist stance.
"We, therefore, submit that the death penalty should be removed in the constitution," said a statement signed by 12 Catholic bishops.
Some human rights organisations have called for a referendum on outlawing the death penalty to allow Zambians to decide on the matter at the ballot box.
The Catholic bishops have also urged the Constitution Review Commission (CRC), which is drafting the new fundamental law, to scrap a provision that declares Zambia as a Christian nation because there are Zambians who adhere to different faiths.