UPND says members will attend Catholic candlelight prayers with ‘Zambia Forward’ placards

UPND says members will attend Catholic candlelight prayers with ‘Zambia Forward’ placards

UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe says the party will not stop the Catholic Church from holding its planned candlelight prayers on August 12, but has warned that its members will attend in large numbers carrying “Zambia Forward” placards and raising their hands in prayer.

Lusaka, 9 August – Simuuwe said the United Party for National Development (UPND) was not opposed to prayer, but questioned the decision to use candles at the service, arguing that the timing of the event, one day before the August 13 general election, could give it political connotation

The Catholic Church has announced that parishes across the Archdiocese of Lusaka will proceed with the candlelight prayers, while maintaining that the service is purely religious and is not intended to support or oppose any political party, candidate or interest group.

The development follows a request by UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda to the Church and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to cancel the planned service over concerns that it could be interpreted as having political implications ahead of the election.

Speaking in an interview, Simuuwe said the party’s objection was not to prayer itself but to what he described as the political symbolism attached to the candle.

“I think the message is very clear from the SG. The argument is not that we are against prayer. Because as Christians we know that God does not need a candle in order to answer prayers,” he said.

Simuuwe argued that the timing of the service and the use of candles had raised questions within the party, particularly because candles had, in his view, become associated with political activity.

He said the UPND had many members who were Catholics and therefore did not regard the Church as a political competitor.

Among those he cited were senior UPND figures, including Jack Mwimbu and Douglas Syakalima, whom he said were members of the Catholic Church.

“The issue is that that particular gesture they are using of a candle, as much as the candle is used often, is an official symbol submitted to the Electoral Commission of Zambia,” Simuuwe said.

He argued that because the prayers were focused on peace and the conduct of politicians during an election, the service could be viewed as having a political dimension.

Simuuwe nevertheless said the UPND would not prevent the Church from proceeding with the event.

“But on the flip side, they are free to go ahead. But what we are opposed to is a candle and we are also telling our members now that, turn up in big numbers,” he said.

He went further, saying UPND supporters would attend the prayers carrying party-related placards.

Simuuwe argued that if the Church was allowed to use candles during the service, there should be no objection to UPND members attending with placards and raising their hands while praying

He said the party intended to display “Zambia Forward” placards as its members participated in the prayers.

Simuuwe also alleged that preparations for the candlelight event had involved political actors, claiming that members of the NRPUP had contributed to preparations for the procession.

He accused unnamed individuals of attempting to use the Church for political purposes and criticised what he described as political involvement by people associated with the clergy.

The claims have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, Miles Sampa, who described himself as a lifelong Catholic, said he hoped the Church would remain impartial and welcome people regardless of their political affiliations.

Sampa said he had been brought up in the Catholic Church and had served as a mass server as a young child in Matero.

“Personally, I’m a Catholic, born Catholic, baptised Catholic as a baby, I was a mass server as a young child in Matero. My family and everybody grew up in a church,” he said.

He said the Church should not be taken over by individuals seeking to advance political interests.

Sampa also said religious institutions should comply with guidance issued by authorities.

“As for the church, the candle, I mean if authorities are giving guidance, the guidance has to be followed even by the churches. The churches are not immune to guidance from the authorities,” he said.

The Catholic Church has, however, maintained that the August 12 prayers are religious in nature and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or rejection of any political party or candidate.

The dispute comes just a day before Zambians are due to vote in the August 13 general election, placing renewed attention on the role of religious institutions and political parties during the electoral period.

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