Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mbunda speaking people get Bible in their own language

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EVANGELICAL Fellowship of Zambia executive director Paul Mususu is joined by other clergy in dedicating the Mbunda Bible which was launched in Lusaka
EVANGELICAL Fellowship of Zambia executive director Paul Mususu is joined by other clergy in dedicating the Mbunda Bible which was launched in Lusaka
Government has urged the church to continue playing a vital role in reducing poverty levels in the country.

Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minster, Elijah Muchima, said the church should not only preach to people but should also assist government in taking care of the under privileged people in their communities.

Mr. Muchima noted that government will always support church projects which are aimed at improving the living standards of people in the country.

He was speaking at the Bible Society of Zambia (BSZ) re- launch of the Mbunda translated Bible in Lusaka today.

He stated that the launch of vernacular Bibles in the country will add meaning to the declaration of Zambia as Christian nation.

Mr. Muchima explained that people who can not read English should be given a chance to study and understand the word of God in their own mouth tongue.

The Deputy Minister further urged people in the country to emulate the Mbunda speaking community and produce more translated Bibles in various local languages.

And speaking earlier BSZ General Secretary, Esther Odani, thanked government for the support rendered towards the production of the Mbunda Bible.

Reverend Odani said her organisation worked closely with government during the translation of the Mbunda Bible.

She further disclosed that the 5,000 produced copies will be sold locally and to neighbouring countries such as Angola and Namibia where they were Mbunda speaking people.

ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS

40 COMMENTS

  1. “He stated that the launch of vernacular Bibles in the country will add meaning to the declaration of Zambia as Christian nation.

    Mr. Muchima explained that people who can not read English should be given a chance to study and understand the word of God in their own mouth tongue.”

    Great stuff. The Holy Scriptures are surely being fulfilled on the record that this word shall be preached to all the ends of the world as a testimony of our God, the Creator, before Jesus Christ comes again the second time to take his own home – to heaven.

  2. Congratulations to all Mbundas wherever you are. Special word of thanks to Dr Biemba Maliti of the Copperbelt University (CBU) who put in a lot of effort to realize this old cherished national dream=d> The next step is to have a local radio station to cover for Mbundas in Angola, Congo, Namibia and Zambia. Congrats once again^:)^

  3. They are a people in western province who came from Angola and settled around kaoma area, they work hard but they are not recognised as well as other tribes.
    i grew up in mongu and whenever something went wrong, people would say
    “ki n’i wena, umu mbunda nji” which means “whats the matter, are you a mbunda?”

  4. I think when changing the word of YHWH it sould be done in an acurate manner not like most vernacular bibles. Most of these groups are not translating the bible they are actually altering it , for example the lozi god Nyambe and the swahili god is Mwarimu. These bible groups think if they take a name of a traditional pagan diety and place it as a replacement for the sacred name of YHWH. This is the same thing the israelites got in trouble for when they started calling YHWH baal in copying the babylonians. His name shall never change and will always be YHWH but it’s funny how the oldest bibles have the sacred name and these bible groups are altering and removing the name in favour of

  5. ..pagan traditional names. Nobody in heaven or earth has the authoority to alter biblical texts in order to make them widely accepted.

    Acts 4;12
    And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    Isa. 52:6 2 My people shall know my name”

    Ex3;15 “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, the ELOHIm of Abraham, the ELOHOM of Isaac, and the YHWH of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations

  6. We can only but give thanks to God for making known his truths to as many as possible so that there will be no excuse!!

    Yes!!
    Acts 4;12
    And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

  7. #14 Toko you are a liar. Mbunda’s are part of the 24 ethnic groups in Barotseland. I am Mbunda from Chief Mwenekandala’s area in Mongu. Most Mbundas are from Mwene Chiengele and Mwene Kandala in Mongu and not Kaoma. There is also a large population of them in Shangombo, Mavua and Kalabo. I do not feel marginalised. Mbundas own a sizeable chunk of the commercial business in the province. Stop speaking for us. We’ve never had problems with other ethnic groups in Barotseland. If anything there has been a lot of intermarriages that it is very difficult to find pure breeds amongst the 24 ethnicities. All the 24 ethnicities have more or less lost their mother tongues. They use colonial Silozi.

  8. “Mr. Muchima explained that people who can not read English should be given a chance to study and understand the word of God in their own mouth tongue.”

    Is there any other part of the human body which has a tongue apart from the mouth?

    Mouth tongue?

  9. We read vernacular bibles not because we cannot read English. I just love reading my Tumbuka bible. It just transports me thousands of miles back to Chief Phikamalaza.

  10. #21 Anon. Westklyn and Norma Jean journalism graduates. I once came across a journalist who thought one road in Lusaka was Bembela Road. He did not know it was Ben Bella road and he did not know who this Ben Bella was.

  11. Mbinga #19, you are right. Intermarriages among the Mbundas and other groups in the area has made them one. During kuomboka, initiation ceremonies and other festive times, the locals use both Lozi and Mbunda songs. Trying to differentiate such groups is what caused the genocide between the tutsi and hutu of Rwanda.

  12. Im Lozi/Mbunda. But evryone who knows little about history thinks am Lozi. Mbunda’s are the prettiest you get in most things, humble and hardworking. I love being me. I shall buy this Bible and learn how to read it.
    Kwasa kwasa to YOU all

  13. # 24 Smart women do not use that type of language which shows no sensitity to diversity. Your language is quite offensive and divisive.

  14. #14 your post contains a lot of half truths. First Mbundas are not from Kaoma. The only truth in your post is that Mbundas are from Angola. The Mbundas found in Kaoma and other areas of Western Province are from refugee communities and have found themselves in Zambia because of the civil war that was in Angola. In other words Mbundas are simply Angolans living in Zambia.

    #19 There is no such thing as barotseland and Mbundas are not technically Zambians at all. The Mbundas just happen to be in Western Province because of the long war from Angola. If anything our brothers and sisters should go back to their rich homeland in Angola and rebuild that country.

  15. I KNOW THE CHIMBUDU PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA AND ANGOLA. PRETTY WOMEN WITH LONG DARK HAIR. THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AND YES I AGREE THEY ARE HARD WORKING. I ENJOYED THE TIME I SPENT WORKING WITH THEM IN NAMIBIA. GOOD PEOPLE. LET THE MPUNDUS ENJOY THE BIBLE

  16. (Sorry this topic is not related to the story) Today marks 90 days since this Govt was elected into power. They have finished their 3 months probation and as Zambians we have a right to analyse their performance during this timeframe with all fairness. I have been searching for the MMD campaign manifesto and have not got a hold of it ,infact the website for President Banda is down ,anyhow we should still assess their performance so far.
    Accomplishments
    1) Promised to increase University Students meal allowance – The Meal allowances were increased in the first week of office but have not yet taken effect.
    2) Promised to reduce Mealie Meal prices – This was done after much pressure from

  17. various stakeholders.
    3) Promised to reduce the price of fuel – This was done after pressure from various stakeholders.
    I can’t think of any other accomplishments ,bloggers please feel free to add more.
    Weaknesses/Failures
    1.Corruption is still rampart in Zambia
    2. Promised to create 4000 jobs which equates to roughly about 111 jobs a month based upon the 3 year period this Govt will be in power. So far the Govt is behind by 333 jobs not being created.
    3.Lack of a strategic Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timebound policy to empower local investors
    4.Lack of a strategic SMART policy to restructure the health system.
    5.The Fertilizer Support Program is not based on a SMART

  18. With our Curriculum in Zambia we start by learning how to speak and write English before any other language.How can one read Mbunda and fail to read English.To ALL MBUNDAS you are known to be shy of your language, Mbunda is not heard outside Western and N/Western province. Most of you fake to be LOZIS. By so doing your language is slowly a natural death.STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

  19. strategy as a result it is failing and the inputs are not reaching the intended beneficiaries.
    6)Lack of a strategic SMART policy to restructure the education system in Zambia to offer more practical courses that will allow pupils and students to graduate with an enterprising mentality. lack of a policy to build Public Universities in each province.
    7)lack of a a strategic SMART Policy to counter the impact of the Economic Global crisis in Zambia.
    8)lack of a strategic SMART policy to boost Tourism in Zambia, this policy should have a dependency on many factors which should also be SMARTly implemented such as good road infrastructure throughout Zambia,a deliberate policy on encouraging

  20. 5 star hotels,shopping malls and social amenities to be built throughout Zambia where there are Tourist attractions.
    9.Too much dependence on foreign investors to the point that there is no serious screening,vetting and Zambia does not maxmize on financial profits and social responsibility ventures from the said investors.
    10)MP’s salaries being increased in the first month of this Govt bein in power even when suce a move was denied during campaign time.
    11) Wasted tax payers money and financial resources in sending Govt officials for medical treatment abroad which is not even part of the annual budget.
    12)Too many trips by the President instead of delegating and spending this crucial

  21. Thanks for your comments whether praise or otherwise. Manchild, Yes our curriculm starts by learning phonetics. The magic of a,e,i, o,u and the alphabet is the simplest to be learnt. So you don’t need to be a master at the Queen’s langauge to be able to read in your own language. The phonemes can be taught over a short period. I bet that some of the words in Zulu (RSA)are so difficult to read even if you were a professor of English. It’s that simple.The semi- literate Mbundas may not be able to pronounced “anthropology” but will be able to read “njenjelekeya”. This innate ability is what enables humans to communicate. Brail is not like the ordinary aphabet!

  22. It seems this story has generated so much debate. I also seem to sense a degree of fear and ignorance of history. To the friend who indicated Mbundas are Angolans waiting to go back. i wonder where he/she came from. All tribes in Zambia came from somewhere. The only problem is that some of them do not know where they came from. if one were to follow the great migration, we would be sending peiople to Sundan and Cameroon. For the Mbundas, continue the good work and extend the history education to the uneducated

  23. WELL DONE ALL MBUNDAS.LET THOSE OPPOSING THE WRITTING OF MBUNDA BIBLE REMAIN.IAM MBUNDA AND EXCITED TO READ THE WORD OF GOD IN MY OWN MOTHER LANGUAGE-THE GREAT MBUNDA LANGUAGE.

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