IF IMENDA IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE CANDLELIGHT CHURCH SERVICE, HE CAN ORGANIZE HIS OWN SALT SANA SERVICE
IF IMENDA IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE CANDLELIGHT CHURCH SERVICE, HE CAN ORGANIZE HIS OWN SALT SANA SERVICE
As the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), we have noted with concern a complaint letter written by United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary-General, Hon. Batoka Imenda. In his letter addressed to the Catholic Church hierarchy and copied to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Hon. Imenda demands the cancellation of an upcoming church service on the grounds that congregants will use candles.
We find this demand unnecessary and an unwarranted interference in the spiritual freedom of the Church. Political history and democratic maturity offer us clear guidance on such matters. In the lead-up to the 2001 general elections, our former Vice-President, Brig. Gen. Godfrey Miyanda, separated from the MMD to form the Heritage Party, adopting the iconic Catholic symbol of praying hands as his official party emblem. Despite being the ruling party at the time, the MMD did not protest, block the Church, or pressure ecclesiastical leaders. Even when the Church hosted national prayer services during heightened political competition, we respected the sacred role of the Church as a unifier and a sanctuary for all citizens.
Today, both the opposition and the ruling party draw heavily on Biblical metaphors for their political branding. The opposition coalition, led by the NRPUP, uses a lamp—a direct symbol of light, echoing Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew that believers ought to be “the light of the world.” Conversely, the ruling UPND has adopted the popular campaign slogan “Salt Sana,” drawing directly from the companion Biblical verse calling believers to be “the salt of the earth.”
Since both political sides draw inspiration from holy scriptures, it is entirely double-standard for the UPND leadership to take issue with a church using candles—a universal symbol of Christian worship and faith—simply because the opposition happens to use a lamp as a symbol.
Faith and worship must never be held hostage by political panic. If the opposition has not complained or attempted to censor the UPND for using a Biblical concept like “Salt Sana,” why should the ruling party seek to dictate how the Church conducts a prayer service?
If my brother, Hon. Batoka Imenda, is genuinely uncomfortable with a candlelight prayer gathering, he is entirely free to organize his own “Salt Sana” prayer service. The Church belongs to God and all believers, not to any single political party.
Issued by:
Gaston Sichilima
Acting President, Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD)