Police in Lusaka today canceled the inter-denominational thanks giving prayers for the release of opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema which were set for today at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
And Police have summoned City of Refuge Ministries Pastor Kangwa Chileshe who was one of the conveners of the service.
[pullquote]He wondered how the prayers could be categorized as public nuisance especially in a Christian nation.[/pullquote]
Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri said the police cancelled the prayer event because the organisers had wrong motives.
Mr. Phiri said in an interview that the gathering would have been an illegal gathering as they did not inform police.
And Pastor Chileshe told Journalists that the conveners wanted to thank God for the release of Mr. Hichilema especially that they held prayers for his release at the same venue during his incarceration.
Pastor Chileshe added that he was advised to write to Religious Affairs Minister Reverent Godfridah Sumaili before holding prayers.
He wondered how the prayers could be categorized as public nuisance especially in a Christian nation.
Hahahah! From now on, its looks like zambians are only allowed pray to Jonathan or pray for Jonathan only
What wrong motives would anyone have to go to church and pray for thanks.
This is what we mean when we say democracy has gone to the dogs in zambia.
Or is it the dogs that have taken over democracy.
You may have supported lungu but when something is wrong we must stand up for what is right.
If truly he is a humble president why then does he not stop all this nonsense surely the buck stops with him or doesn’t it?
I now really think that Government is jealous and scared of HH, just leave the man alone, you are making him more famous.
O.M.G, please save Zambia !!!
I have no words for this act, and then you want to bit.ch about reconciliation talks? These Kanganja boys are just tarnishing ECL name, assuming they have not received an order from apamwambas.
Where is freedom of Worship? As usual trumped up suspicion.
@Ndobo, you Jona in bible? The guy regretted.
I support PF but this is very stu.pid and childish. If it was PF who organized this event the police would have provided security. Double standards ba Lungu.
PF/GRZ now scared of own shadows.
God bless Zambia.
Am yet to see any PF organized meeting stoped by the police.It’s really unfortunate for Zambia now,where you have prayer meetings deemed as PF or UPND Prayer meetings.Any ‘prayer’ meeting deemed ECL/State prayer meeting is well come.I remember the thanks giving prayer meeting which was held at Woodlands Stadium.So many things go in the guise of State.
I think PF must really go. We do not need this organization in the world. PF is worse than KKK or the NAZI party.
my challenge stands still todate. show me an educated zambian and i will give you the number to Gods house in heaven. How can a nation develop if it has no thinkers.
PF police and its leader Lungu have now gone completely mad.
Shortly after being adviced by Hon Scotland to change his ways Lungu has already forgetten the consequences after a few bottles of Jemisons.
Lungu now is planning to arrest HH and his top leaders again for demanding the unconditional release of many UPND members who are being abducted daily.
Lungu and his stooges are mad dogs who must be removed by any means possible.
VIVA HH and UPND.
The wrong MOTIVE is that this kabanana ba.stard pastor is actually a unpd cadre and a fake pastor. These Pentecostal false prophets who use God’s work for self enrichment and he was actually funded by the Satanist because the Cathedral of the Holy cross charges for such gatherings. Why cant he pray in his home if he has one other than go in public to be seen by all – hypocrisy
Useless and very bias police force. They are a batch of *****s as Kaunda used to say. what the hell you request for a permit to pray?? Zambia has truly fallen. God, Please curse all PF leaders and Police for their evil behavior.
The DEVIL is telling these police what to do!
How can they prevent people from praying to God?
Satan at work!
Strange
God is exposing them b4 judgement that they don’t belong to him but are devil worship,just listen to their hate for those who do not agree with their one party state mentality. SO HH IS NOT A FACTOR.
One Step forward and 3 steps backwards. Is a thanksgiving prayer a wrong motive? Might as well cancel all church services going forward. A Lungu mwatisebanya. This is an astounding failure in leadership and you seem so intent in painting yourself in a corner. Why are police given such excess powers. This leaves such a bitter taste in the mouth. I’ve never known things to have ever been this bad in my living memory. BAD , saddening and maddening. Please show some political maturity for crying out loud.
Cry the beloved Zambia….the so called Christian Nation! remember that politics and the teaching of Christ do not mix!……the results are always doom when attempts are made!
They are still Under 5. They still don’t know politics. Thanksgiving my ASH!
Akainde sponsors a few church thugs like this fake refugee Pastor from Rwanda, forgetting that we all know his Satamic Massonist ways.
Up to now no word about dialogue from Under 5 Kaponya (HH). He has betrayed the Baroness. What a lousy whimp
No Mr Kudos you have messed up period! Lets give credance where it is due! You can not prescribe where and how to pray!
“Phiri said in an interview that the gathering would have been an illegal gathering as they did not inform police.”
THERE ARE CHURCH MEETINGS EVERY DAY IN ZAMBIA. HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE INFORMED THE POLICE ?
Does that mean that anyone who goes to Church can now be arrested for attending an “illegal gathering” ???
Can we please be serious about this! This is just NONSENSE – PLAIN AND SIMPLE
It becomes a different story when you assemble at the cathedral. That is a public venue which hosts religious events Christians included. Public gathering attracts involvement of the police especially that article 31 is still in place. Meet from your ordinary churches and no one will come to control you.
You are such an usshole!
Kangwa we all know that you are a UPND sympathiser. You wanted to stand on UPND except they did not pick on you my dear guy pastor. Yours is for kaponyas and kaponya mentality ministry……hahahahaha ati ba pastor. Kuwayawaya fye
This was not right! Please let them pray! The only bad side to it is that HH did not believe in praying for the nation but he believes in praying for him! Nothing wrong. I think the police must use restraint when dealing with evil! Zambians in general respect a place of worship and I do not foresee even evil people burning down the church as they did to markets. Maybe they have more data than me so I will keep quiet!
Sometimes Three Mansions masquerade as angels of light that is why they have three mansions!
Do something that is worth for your family back in Zambia and for your beloved country Zambia. So far, I have doubts.
Why did the SDA pasters not organise the prayers. refuge ministries! My foot!!!!!
Why is this country bent on ignoring the law with impunity. God is a God of ORDER and if the Pastor was advised to formally write to the Minister, he should be the first one to obey earthly commands. It is like we are finding it so difficult to respect the rule of law on this earth in this Country. Spiritual things should never be mixed with earthly things. That is why even when Christ was trapped to pay Tax, He told Peter: Give Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser and to God what belongs to God. He then Instructed Peter to take a hook and go fishing and pay the Tax. What is so difficult with this country to do that?
Stop confusing yourself, read your bible properly.
Spiritual things should not be mixed with Godly things, correct, so there actually should be no Minister of Religion. Should one seek approval to pray? should one seek approval to be born again? Next we shall be told no funeral gathering except with the approval of the minister, this is rub bish~!
Really sad …PF cadres can march in the streets in support of the coward Lazy Lungu…these people are being stopped to go and pray not even this happened in KK’s oppressive one party era.
I guess Zambia is a so called Christian Nation only when it suits the state…I wonder why they even had to ask the incompetent bootlicking IG’s permission.
But you don’t believe in Christianity why comment on this topic. I didn’t expect a heathen like you can support that pastor. Kiki
The hyena who dressed up in the sheeps skin has exposed himself.Time is the best equalizer things are showing now.
We need a better Zambia
I did see the news of the train crash in Namwala District! Now I know the police acted properly!
By failing to remove slippers?
Soon the Three Mansions will be back in One Mansion!
” Christians ” can be detrimental to national security sometimes. Remember Rwanda and Burundi?
You are acknowledging that under leadership of PF Zambia is on the way of Rwanda and Burundi?
ok
Can a motive (wrong or right) be known before the event has occurred?
I’m going to use the toilet; should I notify the police? That’s what happens when a country becomes a police state.
That is why PF keep some of us busy on the internet…..i was wondering when we will get more ammunition from PF for the new online petitions…….alas I did not have long to wait long to support the anti dictatorship petitions.
New petitions at spam proportions to show what we mean when we say Zambia is now a dictatorship going out this weekend….
Where are the bishops …..can we pleas have direction from the church regarding peacfull prayers in Zambia ???
You must stop torching public infrastructure first.
Hehehehe
Exsaspiration setting in now ba small willy oval head.
How does praying at the cathedral relate to the PF arson attacks ??
This is totally unacceptable
Can all concerned citizens pleas petition the Vatican by emailing the Vatican to show how democratic and now worship prayers are under attack by lungu.
Only 5 minutes of you time at
http: vatican.com/contact
Pleas brothers and sisters , we need as many people as possible to complain at the Vatican contact website……this is the only way lungu will get off our freedoms of worship.
I don’t think lungu and his kaponya advisories will have the stomach to take on the church…..they are but coward bullies that hide behind the bible when it suits them.
This is where the leader must come out and say guys don’t do this, this is wrong. Leadership is coming out strongly and stopping these clear excesses
Mark my words…..when lungu sees that people are going onto the Vatican contact web site enmass to register their complaints at PF police interference in prayers and places of worship , he will act.
He come out and say something.. .
Ba spakalinyo Vatican is not Christian but catholic. I know you don’t know the difference. Just stick to magoye or namwala.
Does not matter “small engine oval head”
The Vatican supports all freedoms of worship……..
keep dismissing the petitions to make yourself happy……and I will keep up with the petitions to who ever has time to read them.
HH small willy oval head..
You see ours is a Labour of conviction…we don’t tell lies in our online petitions all incidences are verifiable, all we are saying to western tax payers and governments is this is what Mr lungu is doing…..freedoms the west takes for granted are being denied to Zambians. We remind them of mugabe next door and what complaincency can do.
We tell them that the tax people in the west pay that is given as forigne aid to zambia pay could be used by lungu for such brutality.
And the state has evidence also to show to the world which is right now in police custody about the arsonists and their sponsors. Whatever the state is doing is justifiable. Just obey the simple law and you’ll be fine. Try taking your petition to sda and you’ll be told exactly what am telling you. Hh would’ve been a good citizen had he stayed in sda. These charismatic churches are the ones misleading him.
Iwe stop talking rubbish…..what evidence do you have ? The same treason evidence for which you locked up HH ??
IT is pf behind the arson attacks…no one will be charged you are all stincking corrupt theives…….
One day I will be president and I will undeclare the country a Christian state. Lipservice christian state
Comment: Jonathan and God Sumaili have become gods of the Church in Zambia. Baya sana
…ati get a police permit to pray in a church. PF government doesn’t believe that they are in power. It’s sad that we have a Moslem as a leader of a Christian Nation, Zambia.Viva Christians for lungu. Power has gone to Jonathan’s head and is drunk. Keep crying for recognition only PFolice will.
Why not pray for peace in the whole nation? Better still why not organize prayers for each prisoner that’s released.
These are just lost souls – they now want to put political gatherings under the veil of thanksgiving prayers.
You PF rats will find it is very difficult to cover a dictatorship in a so called democracy which you want to be known by…….more lies only uncovers your dictatorship….
@Spaka. Try to ask yourself why these would want to gather and pray for HH when we all know that the reasons behind political tensions and the incarceration of HH have been put behind. And by the way are these people privy to the conditions of HH’s release. .to which he obviously agreed. Kuti ba kakisha umunabo.
Ndanje
People are happy hh is released, they are banned from any celebrations or rallies and people want to pray for peace, which includes the release of HH..
If hh agreed anything in his release that formalises dictator ship that is the end of him also I would not agree that Mrs Scotland would mediate any dictatorship deals….
Which people? Just say “I am happy ” because to me it’s immaterial whether he’s out or in…after all prison is meant to be occupied.
The people who want to attended prayers with HH are happy, if they are no people why is lungu worried about an empty church ?
This is so confusing that I just dont get it. Pastor please just reschedule the meeting and programme to this Sunday and lets see what these oppressors will do. This is the beginning of an emphatic end to Jonathan’s support even from the most irrational Pf supporters
HH doesn’t go to Church on Sunday, may be after 4 months in different hotels he might do so.
Let them also conduct deliverance prayers so that he comes out of the Armageddon project which he has been stuck in since August 2016
WILL THERE BE RECONCILIATION IN ZAMBIA? SINCE LUNGU CAME IN POWER, CHRISTIANITY HAS BECOME A LAUGHING STOKE. WHERE IS A CHRISTIAN NATION TODAY? DOES IT MEANS ONLY PRIEST AND BISHOPS ARE JOSHUA BANDA, AND OTHER PASTORS FOR LUNGU?
THANK YOU. OCTOBER IS COMING AND WE SHALL SEE HOW MANY TRUE CHRISTIANS WILL ATTEND.
Lungu uses the church to worship himself…..everything must be about lungu, prayers , marches or rallies must all be about lungu.
Worry not Zambia by 2021 PF will have run out of steam. They have started too early and don’t forget that baroness Scotland has already appointed Professor Gambari to formulate a road map for 2021. PF and their leaders are being watched by the international community. These are just desperate acts of frightened little men. It will be game over sooner than they realise.
Thanks giving for the release of a convict, what nosense is this? Why didn’t these fake pastors hold thanks giving prayers for the rains God gave Zambia in 2016/2017 season?
Why do people play with God Almighty? Akainde Ichilema does not believe in God so why hold prayers for him? Too much of false prophets in our country and that is tantamount to mocking God. Well done ba police. Keep it up!
Iwe PF rat let there be freedom of worship….even now praying is now an offence under lungu ??
What are you PF rats afraid of kanshi ??
@ Malinso
There is only one CONVICTED EMBEZZLER in Zambia!!!
Instead of creating jobs, bungling corrupt lungu is worrying about prayers.
Mopane are threatening redundancies and lungu is busy watching what people are saying in their prayers….
We hope the commonwealth Mrs Scotland and her team are looking at these Mugabe tactics…..
The motive was just to make money from offering knowing rich tonga bulls will attend the church service
Were Where you when he was in chimbokaila
Since when did this ichilema believe in prayer gatherings. Last time government convened a national prayer gathering at the same venue he ridiculed Jesus & boycotted the even. So how come now? Has jail taught him a lesson?
It is not hh calling for prayers….it is church members.
Church members have the right to call for prayers for anyone ……what are you PF rats afraid of ????
I think Zambians on this one lets speak with one voice. Number one don’t insult the president because he is not the Police Commissioner General. The church mother bodies should take interest by meeting the religious affairs minister and the Commissioner General of police to establish what the police saw was dangerous about people praying.Mr Kanganja should have sent plain cloth police personnel to the meeting to note anyone who goes on the podium to speak anything outside the bible or thanks giving. Thereafter it would have made sense to bring to book anyone who issued a statement that threatens peace. Its high time the president replaced Home Affairs minister & Police General more rational persons because his name is being tarnished.
Dont dupe your self, lungu and statehouse are the ones who issue those instructions….lungu is omega and alpha as he puts it.
Zambia has alot of churches praying all the time, some on the mountains in all cities .
I think there must have been something behind those prayers.
So ban all prayers then
Walasa!
That’s why I respect Islam though I’m a Christian,
Dont dismiss Christianity based on the actions of a dictator wannabe.. ..
Rightly put the meeting had wrong intentions and motives to destabilise the nation. Talk of hiding behind prayers like moslems. Why should anyone convene prayers for someone who does not even believe in God but Armageddon. Wake up Zambians you have been duped and in your dullness muli dwiiii. This is the new strategy UPND is using to hold illegal meetings – hiding behind the church. They knew everyone of you would sympathise with them by meeting at a church and yet talking politics. Some of you Zambians are just too dull and have failed to see this simple strategy by UPND. Its time to wakeup.
You are a disaster!
Where you also…..you PF rats will next want to watch and resitrict where Zambians buy food from……just concentrate on creating jobs
A senseless paranoid government with a purchased police and other state machinery – that is what prevails. Soon the tyranny will break the little fabric of society that is still left hanging on its thread.
But the highest order of stupidit.y and perversion from the likes of Sharon, Oval head, Kudos etc. will provide the catalyst for this disintegration. Their carelessness or unbridled ignorance on significant human issues has gone too far. Zambia is doomed with this lot.
Nothing wrong. You are the custodians of peace. If someone can’t pray for the peace of the nation he cannot pray at all!
Next, churches will be closed when the full blown up dictatorial death squads will be paroling cities and towns in Zambia.
Comment:MA rubbish
WI cannot get permission to pray to menomeno, I get permission to God only. Let’s boycot 18 October day of prayers. Menomeno is a Moslem . Forgive him.
You need permission to go pray in a church as you invite other opposition leaders? Not so funny hahaha Democracy is dead in Zambia. As a Citizen I think I’m just done debating on any issues back home. I feel like it is a waste of time and people never learn and have no ways of knowing or how to defend Democracy. Good luck fellow Zambians Iam just so done. I have better things to worry about than political insights and injustice as the only order in my motherland. Goodbye citizens
Francis banda
We all feel the same, but must we give up and let the thugs ruin our once illustrious democracy ??
We all can help instead of doing nothing and being mere witnesses to this brutality…..just 10 minutes of your time might help future generations of Zambians.. ..register your complaints at the Vatican web site, send an email to the IMF OF your concerns…every little helps..
As citizens in diaspora we are the only ones who can help to alert the west of the budding dictatorship of lungu……citizens back home do not have the freedom to complain as ZICTA is watching them and they might get arrested for complaining , a charge like international sabotage might be slapped on them by lungu and kapoyongo…
Next will be permits to host/attend funerals. Tukose bane…!!!
Really strange…. What ill motives?
What a Christian Nation?
Let people pray in peace and tranquility. The police of course should have surrounded the place of worship in order to keep vigil on the people giving thanks to the Almighty God for the release of their leader from incarceration but they should have allowed them to go ahead with their prayers. What wrong motives is the Lusaka police chief talking about?The PF is now going beyond the limits. This is too much. People cannot pray in peace, people cannot bury their departed colleagues in peace.
Biblical Prophesies being full filled:
That prayer meeting was to glorify HH and not ordinary.Zambians we have to be careful with the way church is being abused by these political pastors.Why didn’t they hold prayers at HH.You don’t need a permit to hold prayers but political prayers you definitely do.Simple lodgic.Well done police.
Stop lying , You are just paranoid of HH and want to protect dictatorship.
This country is full of comedians. And come October 18th ati day of prayer F.ck
HH is SDA
Have you ever heard his church calling for prayers for HH?
It is the tuntemba Pentecostal churches who see an opportunity for an offering in everything.
There is nothing Christian in the way Haluza Halimwi conducts himself.
The prayers that are needed are for his deliverance.Full stop.
The ideal is okay but where was this Pastor when Terespho Mpundu and the Catholic Bishops were initiating or brokering a reconciliation and the release of HH? He is an opportunist who reaps where he did not sow.
Africa should just abandon having western style elections. Even before counting is finished Unita are already disputing the tabulated figures. …they say their PVT is showing they’ve won the election.
Yes so let them go yo court to prove it if they think they were cheated, I doubt the winner will ban a court case and rather be called an election theif like lungu…
God at his own time will pass judgement for now we praise his Name and bow before him . He is the alpha and Omega … the same yesterday today and forever.
Thank God HH is Free !!!!!
Never mix godly things with earthly things……….period!
The 90s have brought us problems….and i feel we need to scrap that Zambia Christian Nation declaration thing!
Come 18th October, u start begging pipo to attend your prayers.
Truth be said, the train is off rail. Police on remote control. Cry mother Zambia. When done, simply borrow handkerchief from our KK and wipe your tears.
Let me have the sda website to complain.
PF deception exposed once more
Seen that the Upnd has been insulting the Chitimukulu even calling him a wizard. Anyone who doesn’t do what the Upnd wants is an enemy. These are traits of intolerance.
” Mr. Phiri said in an interview that the gathering would have been an illegal gathering as they did not inform police.”.. ??? but how did he know about the gathering and quickly organise police to block it if he police was’nt informed??
Chitimukulu a wizard? They have conveniently forgotten about their wizard mukuni who sleeps at the graveyard.
That’s the ZWD story.