Nairobi, Kenya
Church leaders in Zambia have banned politicians from speaking in churches and warned their clergy to keep off politicians from the pulpit, citing its holiness compared to the lies the politicians tell the congregants.
The leaders said politicians had disrespected the sanctity of worship during services, promising congregants things that are unrealistic and not implementable. They said churches had been used as election campaign tools over the years, but now, they shall not allow politicians to use churches as they have in the past.
Bishop Benjamin Phiri of Zambia’s Ndola Diocese. PICTURE: Courtesy of Ndola Diocese
“Politicians are selfish people,” said Pastor Peter Nyirenda of the Faith Revival Ministries Church. “They only come to church to lie to people so that they vote for them. They abuse each other in the church in front of the congregants, including children. They cannot come to church to preach peace and unity.”
He added: “We will not allow politicians to speak in church. We will treat them like any other member of the church.”
The southern African country of more than 18 million people is predominantly a Christian country. There are estimates that 95.5 per cent of the country’s population is Christian; of these, 75.3 per cent identify as Protestant, and 20.2 per cent as Roman Catholic, according to the US Department of State report.
Catholic Bishop Benjamin Phiri, of the Diocese of Ndola, said he had already directed priests in his diocese not to allow politicians to address worshippers during the mass or outside the church premises.
“This is something we have abolished,” he said. “We must respect the places of worship. We cannot allow politicians to convert places of worship to a campaign platform. They are allowed to come to churches, but they will not be allowed to speak.”
In a statement on 10th August, Bishop Phiri also reiterated comments that politicians should not be “accorded a chance to speak to the gathered faithful during Mass at the pulpit nor should they be given an audience outside Mass to speak to the parishioners within the parish premises”.
“Whenever the politicians visit our churches, they should be treated like any other ordinary Christian coming to worship,” he said. “I am aware that some Priests out of courtesy have, in the past, accorded an opportunity to politicians to speak to the gathered faithful in the name of greeting them during Mass. This is not permitted at all”
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While Christian leaders from across denominations have voiced support for the ban, some church leaders have opposed the move, saying that politicians should be treated with respect because they are representatives of the people. They said politicians should be allowed to come and worship without any threats of ban from the clergy.
Pastor Godfrey Mbewe, of Fellowship Pentecostal Church in Zambia, said the politicians have for decades contributed funds that have helped the congregants to build churches and schools that have benefited the communities.
“We don’t want to discriminate against other members because they are politicians,” said Mbewe. “The church belongs to everyone, and we will not shut our doors to politicians. They have given out money that has helped to build churches and help the vulnerable in society.”
Pastor Nyirenda agreed but said the problem comes when politicians start the campaign and abuse their opponents at the pulpit while congregants cheer at the abuses.
“I repeat, politicians should not be allowed to speak in churches,” he insisted. “No-one can control a politician once they start speaking and abusing each other in church. So the only way is to ban them from speaking.”
