THE United Party for National Development (UPND) says its president Hakainde Hichilema’s preconditions for attending the national day of prayer and fasting next Sunday are not final as the party is yet to agree whether to participate in the event or not.
On Wednesday, Mr. Hichilema said before the county could go for prayers and fasting, there was need for Government to reflect and address alleged police brutality and abuse of the Public Order Act (POA) in which he and other opposition political parties and civil society organisations had found it difficult to freely operate under the current Government.
Mr. Hichilema also said Government needed to address what he termed as abuse of public media which he said had been turned into PF media houses yet they were funded by taxpayers’ money.
But when contacted for a comment yesterday, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the UPND had not made an official position on whether to participate or shun the national event on October 18, 2015.
Mr. Kakoma said his party was surprised by some statements by some politicians and civil society organisations that the party had boycotted the national day of prayers and fasting when it had never issued any statement to that effect.
He said he was surprised that some people had taken turns to condemn his party over the event when it had not refused to attend.
Mr Kakoma said the fact that the party had questioned the motive behind holding prayers when political players had not yet reconciled did not mean that the party had made a position that it would not attend. “We are even surprised that some people have been taking turns to condemn UPND over the prayers when we have not even taken a position as to whether we will attend or not. What we have done is to question the motive to call for prayers even before we reconcile as politicians over our previous differences because our prayers will be irrelevant without reconciliation.
“There has been a lot of bickering among us politicians and we thought the first thing we needed to do was to reconcile so that as we go for prayers, we are in one accord. Otherwise, we are not opposed to prayers and we have not yet made any position over the same. This is why we find attacks on this matter unfortunate,” Mr. Kakoma said.
He explained that the party may come up with a position over the national day of prayers and fasting today when the National Executive Committee would be meeting to discuss other matters.
“The NEC will be meeting tomorrow (today) to discuss some issues and am sure one of the issues that will be resolved is the day of national prayers but as things stand, UPND has never made any statement to that effect and we are wondering why people are busy making statements accusing us of shunning the event,” he said.
President Lungu has declared Sunday, October 18, 2015 as a day of repentance, prayer and fasting throughout the country.
HH and other opposition political leaders should not bother about this PF Public Relations Exercise called National Day of Prayer! They should just stay away! It will not change anything: PF will remain corrupt, deceitful, manipulative, etc. You cannot pray your way out of economic challenges just like you cannot pray your way out of poverty. God doesn’t work that way! Zambians should stop involving God in their self-created challenges!
Statements like, “UPND will contaminate the Prayers” issued by Government Ministers leaves a lot of us wondering as whether these prayers will really be prayers of people who will stand before God and promise Him to leave their wicked ways. They have declared other unworthy of being children of God instead of drawing them to God. That spirit alone will not move God to accept their petitions. Christ said he come to save the sinners and not the righteous.
I `m greatly disappointed,surely the decision of UPND NEC is more superior in this issue of national prayer and fasting? If NEC says lets go and humble ourselves before God in prayer, then people will participate and when UPND NEC says let us not humble ourselves before God, then people will shun prayers . Am getting afraid with UPND now, should i continue supporting UPND or i have to think twice
before its too late? I need advice on this one.
Comment:I lik bro these pipo of little faith y excaping from de warth God i
s about to send
Dont even Punic mr Kakoma do u want as to pray 4 Lungu so that he can have a vision dat he doesn’t have that sunday will be a normal day like other sundays will go to church and knockoff the same time we do with other sundays i cant be told to fast when i know Kambwili cant survive without food in his pot belly he might co laps.
hh and his minors are small satanist even if they stay away from the day of Prayer God will still move and heal the nation.
UPND don’t attend period. Useless prayers, with out vision. Pray for mismanaging the country.
kabengele word of caution don’t insult God, never again should you refer to prayers as useless you can insult the politicians but dont dare rubish prayer. you maybe intelligent but always remember there is a God and one day you will come before him on your knees.
Remember no one is being forced to attend prayers its either you pray or u don’t God answers prayers even from a few as long as they are faithful
Those who worship satana should stay away. Masonists
Lets not judge without evidence. Just work hard and make yourself wealth if u so wish instead of accusing others. All in all group prayers are answered when you are in one accord. As it is now lets work hard towards improving our own country mother zambia
Whoever doest want to attend should stay away. As for me and my household, we shall fast and pray for mother Zambia.Its not a forcing matter.
I now understand why HH was called under five by the late Sata. He doesn’t seem to understand popular politics well. I am one person who does not believe in the so called prayers but this is a very clever public relations by ECL. Most Zambians have been brain washed to believe so much in Christianity when all the bazungus wanted was to reap Africa’s wealth while promising Africans riches in heaven. So if I was HH I wouldn’t issue negative statements about such an issue in country like Zambia who has about 97% of people believing in miracles!!! Worse still he has this baggage on him of being suspected Freemason!!! if I were him I would really reflect deeply before saying such things about the so called national day of prayer!!!!
These so called prayers will not achieve anything because the people behind them are hypocrites. God does not answer prayers of hypocrites. Otherwise Zambia should have been a successful country by now more than twenty years since it was declared a Christian nation. The prayer and fasting session is a mere exercise in futility.
We Are One Family, Lets Carry One Anothers Burden Like Upnd Having Good Thoughts For Pf And Pf Carryn The Burdens Of Upnd To God In Prayer And Tears, We Ar Called God’s Children And I Wud Be Surprised If Upnd Shunned These National Prayers!
We Are One Family, Lets Carry One Anothers Burden Like Upnd Having Good Thoughts For Pf And Pf Carryn The Burdens Of Upnd To God In Prayer And Tears, We Ar Called God’s Children And I Wud Be Surprised If Upnd Shunned These National Prayers! Meditate On God’s Word Not Mans,
God is concerned about the afaires of nations. In the book Jonah the king humbled him self togather with the people prayed and fasted. There is no political prayer but prayer by the children of God. As christian we dont put demands to people before we pray to God
@ cuito cuavale you endlessly accuse colonialists of bible in left hand and gun in other.and you bet they ‘re successful because they were not hypocritical? I guess we just ought to give God everything we feel belong to him and humbly wait for his judgement instead of ‘ukusabaila’
Under 5s making a u-turn.
Kakoma u can’t challenge yo dictator and freemanson to overrule his earlier indication that his tribal party will not take part.Everyone including upnd officials knows that the master belongs to other world.He can be uprooted bcoz all satanic powers will b shaken infact he will b out of Zambia that day
Kakoma,is this the way u want to rule the nation.yo president says NO, u want to change.shame on you & Yo party.Now I Know U Don’t Think Before U Talk. Respect Yo President ‘S Decision.What It Is, Is That even If Hh Attends It Will Not Change Anythig The First Cut Is The Deepest He Already Refused.Unless He Appologises Publicly.We Are In A Prayer Mood. Now U Go Out Of The Way Satan Is Ready To Receice U.Let The Holy Spirit Take Control In The Natin. Amen
Kakoma is right. HH just questioned the wisdom of having prayers without reconciliation. He didn’t say UPND will not attend. Why put words into his mouth.
You shall know them by their fruits. Vindictiveness, bitterness,envy and jealousy belong to the devil.In 2016 do not vote for satanists.U have a chance to say no to the devil !
UPND & HH BE SENSITIVE TO ISSUES ITS NOT EVERYTHING U OPPOSE PEOPLE NOW KNOW U WELL.GIVE LEADERSHIP TO SOMEONE ELSE. ITS A RED CARD LEAVE THE PITCH PLS BEFORE I CO KING JESUS TO LIFT U BY AIR.U MAKE NOISE IN PARLIAMENT & PRETEND U ARE TOUCH BUT U FAIL TO ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN LOOSING.U REPRESENT HIM INSTEAD OF PEOPLE SHAME.
UPND & HH BE SENSITIVE TO ISSUES ITS NOT EVERYTHING U OPPOSE PEOPLE NOW KNOW U WELL.GIVE LEADERSHIP TO SOMEONE ELSE. ITS A RED CARD LEAVE THE PITCH PLS BEFORE I CO KING JESUS TO LIFT U BY AIR. U MAKE NOISE IN PARLIAMENT & PRETEND U ARE TOUGH BUT U FAIL TO REMOVE ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN LOOSING ELECTIONS. U REPRESENT HIM INSTEAD OF PEOPLE SHAME. UPND MPS APART FROM KAFWAYA THE REST ARE HERE TO DESTROY DEVELOPMENT TO SHOW GOVT IS NOT WORKING.WE WANT A CHANGE NOW. IN SOUTH. P ITS NOT THERE.
Comment: we have to pray faithfuly
Just stay away hh said upnd will not attend the prayer meeting,
the next thing hh is giving conditions to attend,
The nec is blank what a confused party….ba under 5.
we don’t sin with why shud u pray with u? we ar redy to vote 4 a satanist come 2016. yr so called prayer & fasting will not cgange anything mr no vision sir’ jst reaign.