We have heard disturbing reports from brethren in Kasumpa, that members of your Church of God, Winter Chifwepa and Haben Moonga, forcefully took away some five (5) oxen from two farmers, Willard Katapya and Armstrong Maninga, who owned those cattle as a result of the LifeNets "Pass on the Gift" Program that has benefited so many of our Church of God brethren in Zambia. These victims also reported that Winter and Haben indicated that you had authorized the taking of these animals and, further, that they would be returning to take away their farm implements as well. If these reports are true, especially if you authorized or condone the same, we are shocked by such heartless and cruel actions.

Willard and Armstrong are simple farmers and are not involved in the current dispute we are having with you over the United Church of God or LifeNets-Zambia assets in Zambia. Their cattle are not "your" group's, "our" group's, or LifeNets-Zambia property. The cattle, like all other cattle generated by the "Pass on the Gift" program belong to the individuals to whom they were given, not some other organization or group. I sincerely hope that these men are not being "punished" because they chose not to breakaway with you and COGWA.

In case you or others have forgotten, I would like to reiterate the "Pass on the Gift" program that LifeNets initiated in Zambia since the year 2001.

We agreed to sponsor a program that would give our brethren cattle to improve their living standard. Our brethren had lost their cattle several years before to corridor disease and were without draught power, milk and all the benefits that cattle provided.

We followed in the footsteps of the Heifer Project International Program in which candidates who were to receive heifers would go through a training program of calf care and calf feeding, etc. Gibbson Simalyata conducted the first such program in late 2001. He held a seminar and afterwards we purchased 24 heifers and one or two bulls for the people who participated in the training program. Once the heifers were turned over to those farmers, the animals were theirs....and they fed them, cared for them from calf to adult cow for many years, bred them and took care of their offspring, as owners. The only stipulation was a "gentlemen's agreement" that they would pass on the first born calf of the heifer they received to another qualified recipient which, to my knowledge, they have done.

There was never any question about their not owning the animals or having to give them back at some point. They were allowed to keep all other calves born thereafter and the understanding was that these were their animals.

On our website on May 25, 2001 we wrote the following when the program began:

"Immediately we are starting on the training phase of the project. This will ensure that conditions for ensuring the health and care for the cattle are achieved. A shelter for each animal must be built. There will be veterinary support so that disease can be checked. We will then proceed to supply the 24 head of cattle and a bull. People from two adjacent communities, about 15 miles apart will be the beneficiaries. We are working with Heifer Project International which has a Lusaka, Zambia office for support and training."

The location of this is at http://www.lifenets.org/zambia/update%20may25-01.htm.

Here are other links on our Website documenting our work in Zambia.

·         Zambia Cattle Project http://www.lifenets.org/zambia/zambiacattleproject4-21-02.htm

·         Explanation of the training of the "Pass on the Gift" Program http://www.lifenets.org/zambia/potg.htm

The cattle that were given to the beneficiaries of the program were theirs, irrespective of their religious affiliation and were not in any way "on loan."   You know that. I hope that the report that you authorized (or are condoning) the taking of these cattle from Willard and Armstrong are untrue. However, we do know that the animals were taken by members of your COGWA group, of whom you are the representative. Either way, we ask that you see to it that these cattle are immediately returned to Willard and Armstrong, that no action be taken to take away any of their farm implements, and that these poor farmers are not further tormented.

If I do not hear from you by the end of the day September 30th, answering these charges, I will have no choice but to assume that these reports of members of your church, Winter and Haben, taking these cattle away by force from Willard and Armstrong, and your orders or authorization for their doing so their doing so, are true, and it will be so reported.

Victor Kubik 
United Church of God Senior Pastor for Zambia