Provided churches continue with the attitude of favouring or opposing particular candidates or political leaders, political tension and violence will never ends, says Green Party President Peter Sinkamba.
On his Facebook Page post this morning, Mr. Sinkamba said it is churches that are fueling tension and competition between PF and UPND by favouring or opposing the leaders of the two parties. He said one group of churches always invites PF leaders to speak and donate in their churches while the other does exactly the same to UPND leaders. He added that it is wrong for churches to turn the pulpits into political forums.
“You see, in Zambia there are several political leaders. However, only leaders from the two political parties are given the front row or what I may term as the VIP row to sit when they go to church. If it is not President Lungu addressing one congregation then it is Hakainde Hichilema addressing the other. Only leaders from the two political parties are given an opportunity to address the congregants or lead congregants into hymns. This is utterly wrong and need to be stopped forthwith because not only is it discriminatory but has fueled tension and competition between PF and UPND. The leaders of the two parties are now in competition as to who offers more money so that he is given an opportunity to speak or sing in one church or the other and given the privilege to sit on the front row,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
He said churches should not favour or oppose particular candidates or leaders holding political office.
“Actually there must be a ban on politicking and electioneering in church,” he said.
Mr. Sinkamba also said while the Constitution of Zambia provides for freedom of worship, it does not provide for discrimination. He said providing a platform and special treatment for leaders of only two political parties in church in Zambia where we have several parties is discriminatory and therefore contravenes the constitution.
“Whilst the Constitution provides for freedom of worship, I think it is high time that we amended it to ban politicking and electioneering in churches. It is high time that we set principles of separation of church from the State and politics. The justification for the amendment is simple. Our tax system provides for exemption of churches from paying taxes. It therefore goes without saying that all tax-exempt organizations should be prohibited from supporting or opposing political leaders and candidates. The same should be the case with cultural or traditional issues,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
He has a point to some extent.
Some churches in Zambia go for the buttered side of the bread.
It is however unfair to state the Church fuels these divisions. The corrupt leaders that we have on both sides of the camp are the igniters.
Which church refused to give Sinkamba front row? We know Kambwili is Catholic, he goes to church.
We know HH is Adventist, he sits anywhere.
Mmembe I don’t know.
Edgar I don’t know
Peter I don’t know
Kabimba, seriously people.
Zambia is Christian nation, all politicians need to be christians. Constitution start with that sentence.
Peter you are wrong, and you have sinned to insult the church.
SINKAMBA MEANS, HE IS NEVER RECOGNISED WHENEVER HE ATTENDS CHURCH. IT’S HARD MAN, I SYMPATHISE – IT IS HARD. TRUTH BE TOLD, WHEN EITHER ECL, ANY MINISTER OR PROMINENT OPPOSITION LEADERS WITH MONEY GO TO CHURCH. THEY ARE RECOGNISED AS VIPS AND BEING LEADERS THEY ARE AFFORDED A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE CONGREGANTS.
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Status matters here. I urge churches not to look at the leaders pocket. Let them recognize all opposition leaders in their midst. This will help calm Sinkamba’s nerves. It pretty unnerving to understand that even in families if you don’t matter fundwise, they don’t call you at funerals or important family emergencies. On a serious note though, I see no reason why someone with a media following can dodge the church’s attention. To make matters…
… matters worse, the church usually disrupt their regular service programming just to accommodate VIP visitors. Get along with it Sinkamba. Pull yourself together all the same.
@Nostradamus that is the most s.t.u.p.i.d thing I have ever heard.
HH attends church as a mere worshiper and does not address congregations. When he goes there he accepts to be led by the clergy because that their domain. ECL stands in front to speak to the people as if he is an ordained priest.
Both may be igniters but only one (HH) is a detonator.
To which which does Peter belong? When do Rastafarians meet for players?
Peter today you sinned before the load. Jesus was sentenced to death by politicians.
Peaceful Politician Haile Selase was a prophet for Jah, Lord of Lord, King of Juda.
Say what bro, praise Jah in church and Parliament for Jah is peace.
Chinkamba is the Elder in the Rastafarian Church. His offerings include 80kg of ganja seeds and 1,000kg of green weed leaf every month.
Don’t forget church is composed of ordinary people.
So are political parties?
I hope you understand why there is a question mark at the end of my sentence.
So to expect miracles from either of these is a waste of time.
The problem we have today is we have a corrupt regime after Sata …the likes of Lazy Lungu use the church as a charity organisation where he donates funds to bribe them to side with him!!
You can donate money to church projects. Surely, you don’t need to be present every time unless you are in the church register or you’re are a member of that particular church. Pulpits are sacred places,so talking about what plans you have for people is totally wrong. It is the same reason why Jesus chased people from the temple for conducting business.
I have a problem with the President has donated this or donated that and that, I find it ru.bbish and si.lly as the President is not so rich to be donating all that cash running into billions since he was elected. It also encourages corruptiin as the President obviously sources that money from companies that want favours from him and government. I have said this before that I am disappointed with this no.nsense in our politics.
However, do not mistake my position with Jay Jay, as we all know by now he would be comfortable with exactly the same things that he is condemning if h.h was The president. I have exposed jj enough for all to know that he is no more than a upnd sto.oge affected by h.h nerve agent Novochok.
Weed…ba sinkamba
Sinkamba has a point which also tainted with envy and jealous! He is an advocate for Lubansa so which church would like its congregants to be smoking weed except Rastafarians where Cinkamba should be going anyway.
This idea banning this and that is self defeating – let the people decide for themselves. Because Chinkamba can’t donate doesn’t mean others shouldn’t. You can donate as much you want but at the end of the day, it’s the individuals that vote not the Church! Chill down Chinkamba, if you can’t beat them, then join them in Church and take weed for pastor too but don’t ban them.
It’s the one man churches who need favours that are to blame. The three mother churches always advocate for peace and remain neutral.
Edgar by virtue of being the President enjoys privileges of occupancy of that office, he can’t be treated like Hichilema, Nawakwi, Miyanda, Mulongoti or Sinkamba. However, some churches were Tongas and their cousins have dominance have also not recognized Edgar as President, instead they treat Hichilema like one. You need to accept that Edgar isn’t at the same level as the rest of the lot.
Whatever that means! Yes, “Edgar isn’t at the same level as the rest of the party presidents” because his donations to Church are not genuine and not from his pockets but Lungu steals them from state funds. HH’s donations are genuine and they come from his sweat and resources. In fact Churches receiving stolen money from Lungu are just as good as thieving themselves.
They know Lungu gives them stolen money and they still accept it which is entirely unethical.
Gifts from HH are genuine and come from his resources so there are no ethical issues with donations here
Most people in earlier postings have brought out important points but someone has to always bring out the tribal thing. This is a sign of immaturity. Tongas are part of all of us and are free to side with a leader of their choice. They deserve respect and cannot be forced to vote for a person who cannot convince them that he’s good for them. Let us learn to live side by side as Zambians and stop this tribal nonsense of painting the Tongas black.
ECL is the President, his being recognised at a church function IS NOT the same as hh.
The problem lies with not only those churches that treat hh as though he were a state figure – he is only just an ordinary citizen who happens to be in opposition currently -(but not for long as he’s own his way out), but nalso hh himself who positions himself as if he were a national leader.
apapena walasa!!!!!
Our tax system provides for exemption of churches from paying taxes. It therefore goes without saying that all tax-exempt organizations should be prohibited from supporting or opposing political leaders and candidates. The same should be the case with cultural or traditional issues,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
Anyone who has read the bible seriously would agree that church and state must be separate. Give ceaser what belongs to ceased, and to God what belongs to God. For every nation under the sun is influenced by Satan.
Mmm, you must appreciate that the Bible can be interpreted differently depending on your motive. There very few people who will use the Bible honestly. Like your example of giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar may not necessarily mean the separation between government and church but that Jesus didn’t want to provoke the wrath of the Romans after the question was asked of him over taxes. He knew it was a trap by the scribes and lawmakers. He had to give a balanced answer. Remember in the same Bible St Paul implores believers to accord respect to those in government.
for lungu its an opportunity to campaign and say bad things about opposition but hh usually preaches peace when given an opportunity to speak.
The opposite! !####//?
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