HOLD A SALT SANA CHURCH SERVICE,’ MMD TELLS UPND

HOLD A SALT SANA SERVICE,’ MMD TELLS IMENDA The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has offered United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary-General Batoka Imenda a rather unusual solution to his reported discomfort with an upcoming Catholic Church candlelight service: organise his own “Salt Sana” service. MMD Acting President Gaston Sichilima says if candles are […]

HOLD A SALT SANA SERVICE,’ MMD TELLS IMENDA

The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has offered United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary-General Batoka Imenda a rather unusual solution to his reported discomfort with an upcoming Catholic Church candlelight service: organise his own “Salt Sana” service.

MMD Acting President Gaston Sichilima says if candles are proving too politically uncomfortable for Mr Imenda, there is nothing stopping him from gathering his supporters, finding some salt and holding his own prayer service.

The comments follow a complaint letter reportedly written by Mr Imenda to the Catholic Church hierarchy and copied to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), raising concerns over the planned use of candles during the church service.

But the MMD says the complaint is unnecessary and amounts to political interference in Church affairs.

Mr Sichilima argues that the irony is difficult to miss: while the UPND is reportedly worried about candles and lamps, its own campaign slogan is “Salt Sana”—a phrase rooted in the Biblical teaching that believers are the “salt of the earth.”

“So, if candles are the problem, perhaps Salt Sana can light the way,” the MMD’s argument effectively suggests.

According to Mr Sichilima, the opposition also uses Biblical imagery, including a lamp, which he says is connected to Jesus’ teaching that believers should be “the light of the world.”

He therefore questions why the ruling party should be concerned about a Church using candles when politicians themselves have happily borrowed Biblical imagery for campaign messaging.

Mr Sichilima says Zambia’s political history also provides an important lesson.

He recalls that ahead of the 2001 general elections, former Vice-President Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda left the MMD and formed the Heritage Party, adopting the Catholic symbol of praying hands as the party’s emblem.

Despite being in government at the time, Mr Sichilima says the MMD did not demand that the Church change its symbols, cancel prayer meetings or explain itself to politicians.

The MMD Acting President says political parties should therefore resist the temptation to turn every candle, lamp or pinch of salt into an electoral issue.

“Faith and worship must never be held hostage by political panic,” Mr Sichilima says.

And for Mr Imenda, the MMD has seemingly already prepared the alternative programme.

If Candlelight is not politically comfortable, Mr Sichilima says he is free to organise “Salt Sana.”

At least, unlike candles, the salt can be sprinkled on the campaign speeches.

Mr Sichilima insists that the Church belongs to God and all believers not to the ruling party, the opposition or anyone else seeking to score political points.

The MMD says religious institutions must be allowed to conduct worship freely and remain spaces where Zambians can come together regardless of their political affiliations.

(kumwesu)