https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI <p>The Zambian Journal of Religion and Contemporary Issues (ZJRCI) aims at advancing knowledge and to promoting research as well as to providing a forum for policy discussion and analysis on diverse issues in the Zambian, African and Global context.&nbsp;</p> UNZA Press on Behalf of the University of Zambia, School of Education, Religious and Cultural Studies Department. en-US Zambia Journal of Religion and Contemporary Issues (ZJRCI) - ISSN Online: 2709-6963, ISSN Print: 2411-6254 2411-6254 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1042 Conducted in 2020, this study explored reasons for the decline in the number of girls undergoing Nkolola rite of passage for girls among the Tonga people of Munyumbwe Chiefdom in Gwembe District Southern Province. The socialisation theory as explained by Anthony Giddens of making a younger member of a community become part of it culturally was employed and confirmed in the study. The objectives of the study were: to describe the Nkolola initiation rite, to establish its value, to explain the reasons for the decline in the practice of Nkolola initiation rite, and to show measures being taken to preserve it. The study was a descriptive case study. The target population included village headmen, women, initiators, girls and boys in two selected villages of Munyumbwe Chiefdom with a population roughly of 45 000 people. The sample was 36 participants; 2 village headmen, 6 men, 6 women, 6 initiators, 8 girls and 8 boys. Purposive and snow-ball samplings were employed to get the intended respondents. Data was mainly collected using focus group interviews and some semi-structured interviews, as well as an observation schedule. Data analysis was done by making sense of themes arising from the responses of the participants in the study. The findings of the study indicated that fewer girls who had come of age in Munyumbwe chiefdom were undergoing Nkolola rite of passage due to a number of reasons such as anti-Nkolola teaching by some churches, girls’ belief that they have the right to refuse undergoing Nkolola, and the inability by some households to host the celebration to mark the girl’s coming out of seclusion. However, those who participated in this study still held the practice in high esteem, arguing that it gave them an identity as Tonga people. In addition, the lessons taught to the girls during the initiation rite were described as vital to the girls because they prepared them for marital and adulthood roles. The article recommends that chiefs, village headmen, initiators and women come up with measures to save Nkolola initiation rite from going into oblivion. Conard Habamba Austin M. Cheyeka ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 1 25 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1049 This article analysed the role that the Christian churches played in combatting violent crimes and promoting peace when Kitwe was terrorised by a group known as the Tokota Boys. Guided by the interpretivism paradigm, it discusses some general perspectives regarding gangs. Furthermore, by using data collected through key interview questions, using a non-probability purposive sampling method, the article describes the activities of the Tokota Boys, and how they negatively affected the lives of Kitwe residents. It also highlights the measures that Christian denominations instituted to combat the impact of this gang as well as to restore peace in the district. In the final thematic analysis, the article concludes that whereas Christian denominations played a part in fighting the gang, their role was limited. This was because their interventions did not fully address the underlying cultural, economic, social and moral factors that were at play in the wake of this this. Thus, in an event of such gang activities, the article recommends mainly that the churches should focus more on fostering social values such as family life, community life, responsibility, respect for life and other fundamental human rights. Lewis B. Chilufya William Sinkala Simeo Kabwe ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 26 40 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1050 The study explored the stakeholders’ perceptions of the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) regulatory framework in Cultural heritage management of the Mwela Rock Art Site (MRAS) in Kasama District of Zambia. The study was impelled by the knowledge gap on the regulatory framework at the Mwela rock art site that could have led to the increased destruction and desecration at the rock art site, despite the presence of the NHCC. The researchers employed a qualitative approach to understanding the phenomenon under study thoroughly. Data was collected through interviews and focus group discussions from a sample of 16 participants, out of which five were subjects of the Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE) that include 4 Village Headmen and 1 Village Headwoman, 3 focus group discussions representing three responses from NHCC members, 4 elderly men and 4 elderly women respectively. Typical case study sampling, one of the purposive sampling techniques, was employed to select BRE subjects, NHCC members, and local elders. Data was analysed thematically. The study revealed that a holistic and inclusive regulatory framework would be cardinal in effective cultural heritage management and preservation of the Mwela rock art site. Furthermore, the Mwela rock art site might be desecrated due to the exclusive nature of the regulatory framework being implemented by NHCC in the cultural landscape. Thus, the researchers recommended incorporating indigenous people’s administrative structures and beliefs into formal preservation policies that govern cultural heritage management at MRAS. This study contributes to the enlightenment of regulatory frameworks that govern the management of ecological and cultural heritage landscapes. Kenny Changwe Tomaida L.C Milingo ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 41 69 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1059 This article traces the role of Zambian Christian Seventh-day Adventists in the establishment and growth of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church at Loshi in the Mansa district from 1930 to 1974. This qualitative study used the historical- organisational model as the framework of its methodology. One-on- one in-depth interviews and Focused Group Discussions (FGD) were used to collect data. The population consisted of Loshi Seventh-day Adventist Church since it was the earliest centre in the Mansa district from which Adventism grew. Data analysis revealed that contrary to the long-held notion that it was the White missionaries from Chimpempe Mission in Kawambwa who first brought the message of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church to Mansa, it was actually the local people who once lived in Congo and received the SDA message there who first introduced this faith in Loshi area of Mansa district. Some of the key pioneer leaders include Samuel Chiposo, Timothy Chila and Bernard Kabengele Yalila George Mwansa Melvin Simuchimba ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 70 90 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1056 This article is the product of a desk study aimed at describing, examining and explaining the nature of Zambian secondary school Religious Education (RE). The motivation for the study arose from the fact that despite undergoing reforms over the years, the nature of Zambian RE is still unclear and many questions continue to be raised with regard to its educational status and standing as a curriculum subject in the country. In order to address the task at hand, five criteria derived from the natural meaning of the word ‘nature’ (of something) were used as a guide in the study. Thus the criteria adopted were: Aims of the school RE syllabuses; Content of the syllabuses; Model of the RE syllabuses; Pedagogical features of the syllabuses; and Teaching and learning materials used in the syllabuses. In line with desk research, secondary data from the national education policy documents, the school RE syllabuses, and other relevant documents such as books and journal articles were read and analysed in order to address the researchers’ questions. In brief it was established that the aims of the current school RE in Zambia are multi-faith with the intent of equally covering the four main religious traditions in Zambia namely, Christianity, Zambian Indigenous religious beliefs, Hinduism and Islam, but the content of the syllabuses is more of Christianity than multi-religious. The model of Zambian RE is unclear as the subject is partially confessional and partially phenomenological. The main pedagogical features include using both life themes and biblical themes, using three teaching-learning stages (junior secondary) and four teaching- learning stages (senior secondary syllabuses 2044, 2046). The teaching- learning materials used include the bible, pupils’ text books, teachers’ guides and any other literature and materials relevant to the syllabus topics. Finally it was recommended that there is urgent need to further reform Zambian RE not only in line with the provisions of latest Government education policy provisions, but also in line with key recommendations of various Zambian scholars and students of the subject. Melvin Simuchimba Nicholas M. Haambokoma Maligelita J. Njobvu ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 91 105 https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/ZJRCI/article/view/1060 Zambian scholars have started paying attention to local stories by either retelling the missionary tales from a Zambian perspective or bringing new cases to the fore. Reverend Father Hector Mwale, a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Monze, combines the two when he narrates the story of Fr. Dominic Nchete, the first Tonga Catholic Priest. At just over 200 hundreds pages, the book is a quick pick for early scholars of religion and education in Zambia. It utilises the omniscient 3rd person narrative style with simple, straight forward language to explore the life of Fr. Nchete from his royal childhood under Chief Monze the ‘Rain Maker,’ priestly training and early service during a racially and politically charged period in Zambia’s history through his trials and perseverance, up to his death in 1992. Gilbert Kamanga ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2023-08-09 2023-08-09 3 2 106 108