MMD president Nevers Mumba says there are no internal wrangles in the former ruling party and those fanning the alleged confusion are wasting their time.
Dr Mumba said those that caused confusion in the former ruling party had been expelled and therefore the perceived wrangles were not within the MMD.
He told Journalists in Kitwe yesterday that it was not the former ruling party’s responsibility to take action against those causing confusion and stated that the MMD was re-organising itself and a new team was emerging.
He claimed that if Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu was failing to ask what certificate those causing confusion were using, then the Government was exposing itself by failing to discipline such people.
“The thought of threatening to de-register our party came from President Michael Sata. But there are no internal wrangles in the MMD, and the person that was bringing confusion has been expelled so those perceived wrangles are outside the MMD and it’s no longer our responsibility,” he said.
Dr Mumba advised the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to concentrate on addressing issues affecting Zambians and desist from playing political games.
On accusations that he belonged to the Reformed Party (RP), Dr Mumba said the issue was non-existent because he relinquished his position as RP leader in 2008 when he contested for MMD presidency and further contested in 2011.
He accused Major Richard Kachingwe of practising sour grapes as he was the one that received his nomination papers.
He said Zambia was a country of rules and that those claiming they would field their candidates in the Livingstone and Mpongwe by-elections had nothing to do with the MMD.
He said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had a list of registered parties and therefore the MMD would not involve itself in such issues.
Dr Mumba said the National Executive Committee (NEC) was embracing all members and mobilising itself to unite and work hard.
Earlier in his sermon at victory Bible Church, Dr Mumba urged the church to take its position and speak against injustices.
He said religion was the opium of the people and therefore the Church should take its stand and speak against oppression and dictatorial tendencies.
Dr Mumba advised the congregation to fight for freedom saying there were three steps that enhanced ones freedom namely religion, political and economic power.
He said he would continue to fight for everyone until the battle was won.
And Victory ministries Vice president Lubuto Nsofwa said the church deserved to play a role in the economy of the nation.
If the case is as the Way the Home Affairs minister puts it, then what is the purpose of registering your organisation?
That’s why it is said that PF has a hand in the MMD wrangles.
Nevers Mumba should not worry about the rantings of Edgar Lungu as his state of mind at the time he addressed the press briefing,he appeared to be under the influence of……………..A lawyer worth his salt would not have gone to the extent of threatening putting MMD into extinction just because some expelled individual decides to be funny.
one may wonder the interest of the PF in MMD.they should a threat after seeing HH speaking at a rally nevers is a threat for sure.
I am also inviting applicants for livingstone and mpongwe by elections, under new wing PF headed by WK
Did he really say religion is the opium of the people? Because, what Karl Marx literally means is that religion is an illusion that creates happiness in man by taking the place of his real true happiness which is free from illusion. Here is the quote, in Marx’s own words:
“The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is no abstract being squatting outside the world. Man is the world of man – state, society. ……continued in the next post
..contd from 4:
This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world. Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d’honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.
Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. ..(continues)
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo.
Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower.[1]
That is what Karl Marx, who originated this term, has to say about religion being the opium of the people. So, I find it amusing that a man of God is quoting Marx in the affirmative, but, of course, as an atheist I see it as a small victory in our favour.
That shows you how shallow the man who aspires to be president of this country is! One wonders where he got his doctorate degree from. Maybe it’s one of those cheap three-month Ph d degrees in theology! which so many so-called men of God have acquired!
Nevers is a very dull man. This saying is meant to mean that religion is a drug that gives you very temporary, short lived but real imagined joy! a form of escapism!! IDI….OT!!
Does MMD has a spokesperson? Some of the statements are supposed to be issued by their party spokesperson. Every day statements are coming either from Mumba, kaingu, Bownam Lusambo
To Red”Do MMD Have”
@The Equalizer, it is the case of a speaker saying things they have heard elsewhere and and also using them without understanding the context in which they are supposed to be used. I actually also wondered at the doctor reverend’s remark. When we speak, we should always be conscious of what we say as it may just be opposite to what we mean, a thing that could be utterly damaging to us if not careful.
Telling it like it is…
the equalizer is right – I was equally baffled that nevers said that – hope he was misquoted.
Ba Kaching… balusa court case, hahahaha!
Religion’s the opium of the pipo, nothing wrong. It’s advice/warning why defaulting NM?
Twaaya, we do agree that religion is the opium of the people. We are just amused by the fact that a man of God is the one quoting a statement that suggests that his own beliefs are an illusion.
First of all, I attended the Church service where Dr. Mumba preached. The person responsible for writing the article may have have been unclear, Mumba said the Church should not hide under the guise of religion and in the process watch injustices happen in the name of peace. He said in totaltarian states you often find that some religious body’s even enable gross inhumanity, case in point was the Rwandan genocide and the catholic Church’s shock and numbness to act, it’s at this juncture where he said religion should not become our opium.
The point of his message was about Jazer and Gilead, story can be found in the Book of Numbers 32:1-15. To paraphrase, a few men come to Moses and said, they have found good land for their cattle and want to settle in Gilead…cont
Moses was then upset and asked, so because you have found brief comfort you want to forget about the other tribes and God’s promise to Israel. He told them first we will cross the Jordan, all of us, fight and then we can share and distribute the land. The point was related to those that are currently benefitting from GOvernment have forgotten that we are to fight until the whole country benefits, not a few people from certain areas of the country, but all Zambians.
So he was encouraging Zambians not to settle in “Giliead” but first fight injustice so all can have their share.
To those that choose to divert the entire message simply because the words opium used in reference with religion are we’re applied are misguided in my opinion. In fact the message was quite clear,…
Wisdom, in an intellectual debate, or intellectual analysis, the scientific process calls for examining available evidence or data. Thanks for giving us the full sermon, although you do not quote the point at which Dr. Mumba mentions “the opium of the people”, so you do not infact qualify your argument. Secondly, my comment started with “did he really say…” which suggests that I am working on the premise of assumption/hypothesis that if infact he did, then I proceed to explain what that phrase actually means. Read this again, He said religion was the opium of the people and therefore the Church should take its stand and speak against oppression and dictatorial tendencies.”
In other words, he is quoted as suggesting that religion should use its position as the opium of the people to fight oppression and dictatorial tendencies. Figure that out. Whether he said it or not, we do not know. What we know is what has been quoted here, so if we are to have a logical intercourse then let us stick with what was on the table which led to my statement, and argue from that premise.
Before anyone can discredit Dr N Mumba, I think it is important such a one obtains a copy of the full sermon that he delivered to the congregants.That way, the true meaning the sentence that has been attributed to him will be established.That what any fair person will do.
PK, I start my comment by asking if he really did say that. I think that is fair. And then I proceed to give Marx’s words on the matter. Which is the unfair part? If we are to obtain a full copy of everything we are told some politician said, how practical would that be? How long would it take? So, if he did not say it then he was misquoted. If he did, that is very shallow and ignorant of him.
…Moses was then upset and asked, so because you have found brief comfort you want to forget about the other tribes and God’s promise to Israel. He told them first we will cross the Jordan, all of us, fight and then we can share and distribute the land. The point was related to those that are currently benefitting from GOvernment have forgotten that we are to fight until the whole country benefits, not a few people from certain areas of the country, but all Zambians.
So he was encouraging Zambians not to settle in “Giliead” but first fight injustice so all can have their share.
To those that choose to divert the entire message simply because the word opium is used in reference with religion are misguided in my opinion. In fact the message was quite clear and inspirational.
We do understand that he is telling Zambians, and his flock, to fight injustice and all that. We are simply saying he quoted the wrong phrase for his campaign, which is self contradictory. However, we have no problem with people blindly defending their leaders. It is not our ignorance they expose but their own. Blind faith is, well, blind.
Mr. Mumba the so called MMD president, are you aware that four of your Councillors in Luwingu district are leaving your party anytime soon to join the ruling party?
Some of us do not really care what religion or movement an individual belongs to. If he/she says something right, we agree. If they misfired, we point it out. So far the things said here in defense of Dr. Mumba lack merit as they shift from the premise on which my statement was made. As such, the responses appear to simply be emotional rather than intellectual responses by those who feel offended that a person they hold in high esteem has been shown to misquote a philosophical statement. Is it not possible that Mumba, or anyone, can make this sort of error?
By the way, Wisdom, we did not intend to divert the whole message. Something just caught our attention and we pointed it out. If we are wrong, please point it out for us articulately. Otherwise, at least just learn that “opium of the people” is not a compliment to religion.
We can exchange e-mails and clarify each others points. And yes it was not a compliment to religion by the way. I just choose to believe that you are not one to go on and on about something someone did not say. Yes Mr. Mumba is as prone to error as you and I are and in this particular case I believe you may be in Defense of a mis-representation of what someone actually said.
Let me know if I can help in getting you the actual message.
Kind regards
It is an argument by someone who thinks that religion is an illusion, but is sympathetic enough to understand why people end up in situations where they need an illusion to keep going..
And I guess in your Defense you forget that I was actually in attendance. I start by stating that the individual who wrote the article was not clear, I therefore cannot debate what’s “on the table” because in my opinion it is innacurate, although I can see how one can get a carried away.
I paraphrased the MSG so those that those that stumble on this blog can get the perspective from someone who was actually in attendance. While I appreciate your taste for articulate debate, my efforts would be in vain because I can not fairly debate with you on this matter, you seem to want to discuss the article, and I clearly can’t because my notes and what I heard do not quite come to the same end.
If you wish to further debate the matter I would encourage u to get a copy of the MSG first…
Well said my friend, and the critique was that the Church should not allow religion to become our opium, whereby we hide in religious piety as the world around us falls apart and injustice is clear. He further went on to say, be bold, don’t fear and speak against injustice and abuse while you can. Don’t wait for society to decay then ask, why has God allowed this to happen. In the intricacies of our exchange the simplicity of the MSG is quite clear to me at least. Hope that helps.
@Equalizer
It’s a howler. Politicians world over have made the most quotable gaffes historically recorded. People make a living spotting them. Ka-ching. Just sayin’… No harm. No ‘fowl’ 🙂
@Wisdom. The expression ‘preaching to the converted’ in that case can be applied to your discussion with an atheist who is actually not disagreeing with you.
That said no politician should use opium 🙂
Well put. Thanks 🙂
@ Wisdom, fair enough. In that case, if I have understood you correctly, it would have been easier for you to simply say, since you were in attendance, that he was mis-quoted, and that he had not used those words, or if he had actually used the expression, you could have given us the sentence in which he used it to illustrate your point with regard to context. Secondly, for me anybody can be wrong, even I can be wrong, infact, I am often wrong, so I dont see what is shameful about that. It is the failure to admit a wrong that I think leads to failure to grow or learn.
A Phiri Anabwe…, well put. Thanks.
..
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