Bread of Life Church International General Overseer Bishop Imakando has refuted information circulating on social media that he has cut a deal with UPND president Hakahinde Hichilema, who is the presidential candidate of the UPND Alliance.
In a statement released to the media, Bishop Imakando said that he did not hold any meeting with Mr. Hichilema on July 30th 2021 as alleged in the caption of a picture in which he is shown standing alongside the UPND leader and Pastor Kangwa Chileshe, a UPND member.
According to the statement , the picture in question was taken on February 25th, 2018, at his church’s visitors’ lounge when Mr Hichilema and his encourage attended a Sunday service at the Blessing Centre in Emmasdale, Lusaka.
the statement further said: “Allegations that a secret meeting was held between the Bishop and UPND president are baseless and malicious. Like other politicians from different political parties, Mr Hichilema has occasionally visited our church to worship with us
However, he has not visited us in the recent past. ”
The statement concluded by saying that the allegation against Bishop Imakando, like similar ones that have been orchestrated against him in the recent past, must be dismissed with deserved contempt.
Meanwhile, Christian Coalition Zambia President, Charles Mwape has condemned Bread of Life Church International, General Overseer Joseph Imakando for the statement he made during a sermon in church.
Professor Mwape has described the statement by Bishop Imakando as abuse and politicising of the pulpit.
Professor Mwape said that what Bishop Imakando is doing is taking advantage of his members by telling them that it is time for change, adding that the statement is wrong and must be condemned.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Professor Mwape said Bishop Imakando should find a proper platform to speak his political mind and not abuse congregants in the name of preaching the word of God.
Professor Mwape has called on Bishop Imakando to apologise to the congregants and find a political platform on which to speak his mind.
He said failure to apologise will mean the Bread of Life Church International is a political movement promoting the agenda of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Bread of Life Church International General Overseer Bishop Joseph Imakando is quoted in some sections of online media telling his congregants that, August is the month for change.
But when contacted for a comment, Bishop Imakando said people misinterpreted his sermon as he does not belong to any political party.
FORGET ABOUT THESE VUVUZELAS OF PF FAKE PASTORS WHO SPEAK FOR PF , YOU WANT IT OR NOT
IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE
Imakando is integrity personified.
We hear you Pastor. You are just saying the true. Being truthful doesn’t mean you’re political. I don’t think if were political you would support PF because it’s a party of hypocrite.
Someone has to stand up and speak for the poor. Nehemiah 5 spoke for the poor and that is what is needed this time.
Am not siding with anyone but the Scriptures.
That’s right! Church leaders should NOT be involved in politics! Good man!
This regime will stop at nothing from punishing him, they will go after his investments, unremitted taxes and they will definitely stop broadcasting his church services on ZNBC.
And politicians should NOT get involved with churches! Have you heard that Edgar China Lungu? With all those hypocritical quotes from the bible? So dishonest!
I dont even know why he feels the need to respond to empty tins who can not face up to the truth…you can not reason with people who think everyone who is critical of the PF govt must be with the opposition.
What has gone wrong with these Pastors? Not so long ago a Catholic priest advocated for rigging of elections to keep some people in power. Just last weekend another one called for change in the leadership of the country. Pastors should be praying for the nation to hold free, fair and peaceful elections and encouraging people to go cast their votes
The only challenge with politics is that depending on where someone lives and do for life we see government differently. Whilst the social media is full of highlighting the failures of PF some in urban areas appreciate the stabilisation of electricity supply, especially if you run a saloon or barbar shop. In villages people are able to communicate with mobile phones due to the towers installed under PF rule, women and children appreciate the hospitals and schools built near their villages. So those who feel it’s time to change government should not generalize but wait for next week. When votes are counted then we will know wether it was time for change or not.
These are rich Pastors who cannot be bought with brown envelopes .They are not like Chiefs though it was very wrong for him to campaign on the pulpit
Let’s be a people of integrity our dear leaders. President Lungu has been in the forefront of using the church during these campaigns. Wherever he travels he meets the clergy. Isn’t it also to seek votes? Bishop Imakando has been in the public eye longer than Lungu, the man is a national treasure. He has always had Zambia close to his heart. I remember a sermon he preached once many years ago about why diasporans should return to the motherland. President Lungu has broken the law during this campaign by not adhering to the principle of separation of church and state. This is not good behavior coming from a leader. it is a sign of immorality.
Citizen – You asking what wrong …really laughable…well some Pastors are telling the truth to their congregation, its better to tell the truth than lie if you want to keep your people coming back.
Lazy Lungu is just one insecure man he is happy to get all this praise from the churches but the moment the criticise he is a annoyed…lesson here is true leadership is telling them to keep out of politics when they are praising you
@ Dominion
I agree with you 100% and it is about the out come of the elections that will determine who is to rule Our mother Zambia.
@
I would urge Bishop Joe Imakando not to be intimidated by the likes of Charles Mwape who do not see that the Zambian state of affairs has fallen apart and needs serious people to fix it. Is Charles Mwape implying that Bishop Joe Imakando should keep zee and pretend as though things are ok? Is Bishop Joe Imakando not entitled to express his own opinion? In the recent past we have Pastors for Lungu, likes of Dan Pule even taking matters to court and no one raised fingers. If Charles does not see what others are seeing because he is color blind let it be so. Every human being is a politicians in one way or another that the reason Jehovas WItnesses don’t vote.
Not with HH, but his master who he serves as a strongman who even Seer 1 and Pilato also serve. Surprised? God sees all, and Jesus reigns supreme, has has already defeated the devil and his kingdom and brought them together to open shame.
Luke 8
17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
Not with HH or his party, but his master and his kingdom who he serves as a strongman. who even Seer 1 and Pilato also serve. Surprised? God sees all, and Jesus reigns supreme, has has already defeated the devil and his kingdom and brought them together to open shame.
Luke 8
17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
Pastor Mwape has supported ECL with Imakando saying nothing.And what credintials does Mwape hold for his professorship?How many academic papers has he written?Who recognises his University?
ONE ***** IS COMPARING RIGGING AND CHANGING, are some of these *****s educated? What did you learn in school if you cannot differentiate illegality from legality?
Whether PF win things must change. It will not be business as usual. Stop harassing those pointing out the obvious.
Some bishops, pastors and elders in Zambian churches have a lot of skeletons in their cupboards so that if they ever spoke out against the government the Office of the President would leak dossiers against them- illicit affairs, money laundering (yes, the earn from international trips but do not declare to the taxman), bribery and corruption (yes, they import cars and goods for personal use but in the name of the church). This is why they are afraid to speak the truth to power. They would like to continue eating the bread of wickedness and so they sing praises to the ‘humble’ dictator. There is no testimony of conversion of the President, but without interrogating him they accept him as a ‘Christian’ just because he clasps his hands together when he is in their presence.
@ Tarino are you a man of your words sir? Just a week ago you accused imakando of receiving bribes through sumaili. Now that he has said change ,you paint him holy. Be a man of your words and avoid emotions.
Our political leaders have become become very religious; the join Ba SDA on the sabbath, Sunday very early in the morning they go to UCZ and then rush to the Catholic Church to attend the last mass.
Those who are convinced that it’s time for change are entitled to their opinion, but please, respect other voters opinions and don’t force your opinion down our throats. Each voter only has One vote and the majority will carry the day next week.
It’s not these relentless social media comments from the diaspora.
Bishop leave Mwape who condeming the same things he himself is doing. He is very selfish man.
How naïve can you be? Have you forgotten one enterprising Youngman whose program we couldn’t wait to watch ‘ zed shall be saved ” he would shout he was eloquent better dressed than joe and a delight to listen to…..today? Remember a high flying ceo who was invited long time to help lead this great nation he responded ‘am a businessman not a politician’ today ? Remember the newspaper monger whose paper we fought to buy, when told to join politics. He argued ‘am not a politician am journalist’….today? So no smoke without fire….
Pastors are suppose to speak for the poor. How can a country wallow in abject poverty and poverty stricken pastors cannot stand for the poor. Your own child a Doctor cannot find a job and a cadre who cannot express himself properly in an official language has a bungalow. Ba Kaizar Zulu…such frippin full. Lets discuss real KPIs GDP growth. celebrating other people’s initiatives in infrastructure development. Point out which structure was initiated after 2013……zero but we can name the cadres and point at hotels and guest houses and flats that have erupted since 2013.
Let him speak his mind, after all he is just human. But campaigning in church using the pulpit is not only immoral but acutely blasphemous.
Bishop Imakando, Archbishop George etc are men of integrity. I regret to say the men of God and some of the leaders who have criticized Bishop Imakando, Archbishop George Lungu are biased towards the ruling party. What would Pastor Peter Chanda advise people who are complaining that things are not go well in the country?
Imakando must be calling a spade a big spoon. If he feels it’s time for change he has the right to say it, even to his congregation, there is absolute no offence here, don’t demonize a clean man, stop scanning a clean man, start scanning the FIC report instead
PASTORS AND CHURCHES ARE JUST MONEY MAKING MACHINES
THEY ONLY COME INTO THE LIMELIGHT JUST BEFORE AN ELECTION THEN DISSAPPEAR AFTER
ALSO SOME GO TO SUNDAY CHURCH AND WHEN THEY COME OUT THEY GO AND PICK THE GIRLFRIEND UP, OR TO THR SHABEEN
OR START PILFERING ON MONDAY
SO REALLY LETS LEAVE RELIGION OUT
Imakando… The modern day Judas Iscariot…with a think skull…rotten to core.. Selfish Man who steal even from the poor
Thanks Bishop, always on the side of justice, very consistent and never a commodity
Imakando’s church is financially sound, so it cant be compromised, and that is very good, because the church is not compromised with brown envelopes and speaking its mind. Looking at the number of compromised churches, it is scariong. We want a government that can come and solve our bread and butter issues
Meccy – Dont be childish this is why you end locked up for defamation…where did Sumuili meet this chap last week?
A thin line between Politics and Religion.
Jesus got himself misinterpreted and entangled in this Caesers Government and the Kingdom of God ordeal as well.
*One of My messages to Imakando is to honor Jesus’s teaching concerning state and the kingdom of God.
Damn, just recall and replay the Pilate-Jesus encounter.
*Two of My messages to Imakando while you still enjoy my respect for you, ensure that you don’t influence any of your members to vote for your preferred candidate. Your church members have diverse atomic political interests. They have rights to assembly and should enjoy freedom of expression.