HH, DANGEROUS PRAYERS, AND SATANISM.
THE DANGEROUS DECEPTION OF POLITICAL SPIRITUALITY: WHEN CHRISTIANS MISTAKE POLITICAL LOYALTY FOR THE WILL OF GOD
Some Zambians genuinely exasperate me, particularly certain Christians who profess extraordinary spirituality and prayerfulness, including some pastors who ought to possess a more profound understanding of the Word of God.
Apparently, a certain controversy has been unfolding for some time, escalating into unprecedented theatricality during and after the election period. I initially elected to remain silent, but I have ultimately resolved to speak out and correct some of my rather intellectually complacent brethren.
There are people who sincerely believe that the previous administration was a divinely sanctioned government, and that everything it did was an expression of godliness, including its declaration of the National Day of Prayer and Fasting. These same people have conveniently concluded that the current administration, together with the incumbent President, is inherently evil and satanic, consequently interpreting every decision he makes and every action he undertakes through the distorted lens of their political prejudices.
Let me categorically state that I am not oblivious to the commendable achievements of the previous administration. There were, undoubtedly, several wonderful things that government accomplished. However, the magnitude of the wickedness, intolerance and political brutality that characterised certain aspects of its leadership remains profoundly incomprehensible to me. Much of this disturbing historical evidence remains accessible on various social media platforms for anyone interested in examining the record.
Although the declaration of the National Day of Prayer and Fasting was, in itself, a commendable initiative, one fundamental question demands an honest answer: Did the very people who introduced this initiative genuinely embody its underlying principles of forgiveness, reconciliation and national healing?
If anything, my observation is that certain individuals exploited this spiritual occasion as an instrument of political manipulation, using what ought to have been a sacred national initiative as a vehicle for advancing their own selfish interests.
Substantial sums of money were allocated to organisers of these gatherings in various parts of the country. Yet, the benefits were disproportionately enjoyed by a particular group of pastors and bishops who identified themselves as “Christians for Lungu.” These were people who, in my view, were unwilling to extend to others the same opportunities and privileges they were so selfishly enjoying themselves.
Personally, I loved the late former President, just as I love other politicians as human beings. Nevertheless, I never subscribed to the kind of leadership that tolerated corruption, political thuggery and the persecution of perceived opponents.
I vividly remember a period when some citizens were allegedly subjected to torture and brutal violence, particularly in Lusaka, simply because they wore red T-shirts associated with the opposition. In certain instances, political cadres reportedly invaded the offices of individuals wearing red, assaulted them and subjected them to intimidation, even when those shirts constituted their company’s official uniforms. What made the situation even more disturbing was the apparent failure of the government to decisively intervene and protect innocent citizens.
I also remember watching a video in which a minister reportedly entered a shopping mall, ordered people who had merely gone there to purchase mealie meal to sit on the floor, and subjected them to humiliation while his cadres assaulted them. Yet, once again, I saw no commensurate governmental response that adequately addressed the apparent abuse of power.
We even witnessed the emergence of groups of Christians who openly identified themselves as “Christians for Lungu.” Vehicles bearing their branding were reportedly allocated to facilitate their activities, raising serious questions about the utilisation of public resources for partisan religious mobilisation.
Some of these individuals would visit State House ostensibly to pray for the late President. Yet, I questioned whether their participation was genuinely motivated by spiritual conviction or whether, for some, it had become a remunerated undertaking rather than a sincere expression of intercession.
I further remember videos circulating of political cadres burning money to prepare braai, while others spread banknotes across their beds like bedsheets, boasting that the President was taking excellent care of them. Such displays of extravagance and disregard for the value of money were deeply troubling, particularly when the political leadership appeared unwilling to decisively condemn the conduct.
Yet today, certain Christians want to romanticise that period, sanctify its political excesses and persuade others that such leadership represented the express will of God.
I genuinely question the intellectual and spiritual discernment of anyone who can witness such contradictions and still insist that political allegiance is conclusive evidence of divine approval. I am particularly disappointed by some people I previously considered sufficiently intelligent and discerning to see beyond the superficiality of political propaganda.
Now, consider the incumbent President, against whom certain Christian groups, alongside their pastors and self-proclaimed prophets, have mounted an extraordinary campaign of spiritual condemnation. They have propagated allegations that President Hakainde Hichilema is a satanist, that God has rejected him, and that his continued leadership is contrary to the divine will.
Some have gone beyond merely praying for his electoral defeat. They have engaged in prayers expressing the desire for his death, apparently anticipating the opportunity to celebrate such an outcome.
In their theological imagination, God has somehow become an adversary of HH, while Satan occupies the seat of national leadership. They even invoke biblical passages to justify these destructive petitions, as though Scripture were a weapon to be manipulated in service of their political animosity.
I describe these prayers as foolish because I find no legitimate Christian justification for turning prayer into an instrument of hatred, political vengeance and the desire for another human being’s destruction.
What kind of Christianity celebrates the prospect of a human being’s death simply because that individual occupies a political office one disapproves of?
I consider such attitudes spiritually dangerous, intellectually indefensible and morally reprehensible. I have consequently lost much of the respect I previously held for those who so recklessly misrepresent the character of God.
One particularly striking contradiction, however, is that many of their political prophecies and declarations have failed to materialise as confidently predicted. Their continued insistence on the same narratives raises serious questions about the sources of their alleged revelations and the reliability of their spiritual claims.
I sometimes wonder whether we are serving the same God of love, mercy, truth and righteousness.
What concerns me even more is that some of these people appear increasingly dependent on self-proclaimed spiritual authorities whose pronouncements they accept without sufficient discernment. Some of these figures act as witchdoctors, yet we see some Christians cheering them up.
What these people fail to recognise is that their escalating hatred for the President may be progressively distorting their understanding of prayer, worship and Christian discipleship. They imagine themselves to be advancing spiritually when, in reality, their hostility risks drawing them into practices and attitudes fundamentally incompatible with the Christian faith.
Their consciences, already compromised by political prejudice, continue to rationalise conduct that should instead provoke serious self-examination and repentance.
Now, they are even claiming that the decision to commemorate Zambia’s Christian-nation declaration alongside the National Day of Prayer and Fasting is satanic. Some insist that God had assigned a particular date and that Satan has subsequently altered it.
Honestly, I find myself oscillating between laughter and profound sadness.
With such a mentality, I shudder to imagine the consequences if some of these were entrusted with the responsibility of governing this country. Their inability to separate personal prejudice from spiritual conviction could produce catastrophic consequences within an extraordinarily short period.
One fundamental reality these people must appreciate is that every President has a distinctive approach to discharging the responsibilities of the office. Expecting President Hichilema to govern precisely as his predecessors did, or insisting that he must conduct national affairs according to one’s personal preferences, demonstrates a troubling failure to appreciate the complexities of leadership and governance.
It is an indictment of one’s reasoning to assume that every departure from a preferred political tradition must automatically constitute evidence of wickedness or satanic influence.
I am equally astonished that even some highly educated individuals have succumbed to this deception. Academic qualifications should, at the very least, cultivate a willingness to interrogate assumptions, examine evidence and distinguish emotional reactions from rational conclusions.
Unfortunately, education does not automatically immunise anyone against prejudice, propaganda or intellectual dishonesty.
Let me reiterate what I stated when I delivered my prophecy concerning the previous elections:
God does not consider spiritual capacity in isolation when entrusting an individual with leadership. Multiple factors, including the needs of a nation and the responsibilities associated with a particular season, must be considered.
President Hakainde Hichilema may not satisfy certain people’s subjective definitions of spirituality, Christianity or religious expression. Nevertheless, I believe he was chosen for this season because his leadership corresponds to what Zambia requires at this particular juncture in its national development.
I am convinced that, in the foreseeable future, some of the people who presently spend their time criticising the President and praying against him will eventually repent from their hostility, reconsider their positions and, perhaps privately, repent of the ignorance and misjudgment that characterised their present conduct.
Brothers and sisters, never permit the hardships you experience in life to become the interpretative framework through which you understand the Word of God.
Do not allow personal frustrations, political preferences, disappointments or unfulfilled expectations to redefine God’s character in your imagination. The moment personal bitterness becomes the lens through which one interprets Scripture, spiritual discernment begins to deteriorate, and one risks wandering far from the path of sound understanding.
The truth remains that HH is the President of Zambia. Whether one voted for him or against him, accepting the constitutional reality of his presidency is essential if we are to move forward as a nation and begin the process of genuine healing and reconciliation.
If you believe that he is making decisions that are detrimental to the country, pray for him. Ask God to grant him wisdom, humility, discernment and the courage to make decisions that serve the interests of the Zambian people.
However, if you genuinely believe that the appropriate Christian response is to pray for his death, I must respectfully but firmly challenge your understanding of the faith you profess. Such an attitude is profoundly inconsistent with the Christian obligation to pray for those in authority and to seek the welfare of the nation.
I believe President HH is God’s choice for this particular season of Zambia’s history. Yes, you read that correctly.
Some of us believe we hear God clearly and exercise spiritual discernment through our understanding of Scripture and the purposes of His Kingdom. We must, however, remain accountable for our claims and distinguish genuine conviction from personal preference. Unfortunately, there are also people who exploit the trust of unsuspecting believers, using deceptive spiritual pronouncements to solicit money and secure personal advantage.
For the record, I have never been a partisan political operative. I have never received money from any political party, nor have I been promised political favours by any party, including the ruling government.
My convictions are my own, informed by my understanding of Scripture, my spiritual discernment and my interpretation of the Kingdom of God. I am not writing as someone’s political spokesperson, nor am I attempting to purchase favour from those in authority.
Allow me to make one final statement.
Some of the most vociferous critics of HH, including people currently misleading sections of the Christian community, will eventually join the ruling party and serve under his administration. Don’t be surprised if even some prominent opposition Members of Parliament from different constituencies eventually crossed over and aligned themselves with the ruling establishment.
When that happens, it will be interesting to observe how some of those who presently portray the President as an enemy of God will rationalise their subsequent political realignment.
If you genuinely love Zambia, pray for the nation and its President. Pray for wisdom, justice, economic progress, peace, national unity and the protection of every citizen.
Abandon these reckless and potentially dangerous prayers motivated by hatred, because I see no Christian justification for them.
Let me be absolutely clear: I am not suggesting that President Hichilema is perfect. Like every other political leader around the world, he has his own limitations, weaknesses and shortcomings. He is human, and his decisions must remain open to legitimate scrutiny, criticism and accountability.
However, disagreeing with his leadership style, policies or administrative decisions does not give anyone sufficient grounds to label him a satanist.
Such accusations, when advanced without credible evidence, reveal the dangerous intersection of political prejudice, spiritual irresponsibility and intellectual shallowness.
Christianity should never become a sanctuary for political hatred, nor should the pulpit be converted into a platform for demonising leaders simply because they do not conform to our personal expectations.
You can disagree with a President without declaring him an enemy of God. You can criticise his policies without weaponising Scripture. You can pray for political change without wishing death upon another human being.
That is the distinction between responsible Christian conviction and the dangerous distortion of faith by political obsession.
May God grant Zambia wisdom, heal our divisions and deliver us from the deception of those who invoke His name while promoting hatred, intolerance and division.
GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
▪︎ Friday Nathanael Musonda.