The Sunday Mail
Zambia’s former Vice-President Dr Nevers Mumba has urged Christians to drive nation-building by placing value on national events like Independence Day celebrations.
Dr Mumba held the post of Zambian Vice President between 2003 and 2004 under the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
A minister of the word, Dr Mumba was in Zimbabwe recently to attend a conference hosted by His Presence Ministries International in Harare.
As Zimbabwe celebrated its Independence on April 18, Dr Mumba said Christians by honouring political independence should be able to move forward and influence economic independence of the nation.
“When Christians shun independence celebrations again it’s a lack of understanding. Even if you are the problem you can’t stay out and say the reason I can’t celebrate independence is there is nothing to celebrate, we are still living in poverty!
“The church needs to be involved to be able to say we have political independence, (but) we don’t have economic independence. So what we need to do now to place value on our independence is to do this or that. And actually to give direction to politicians to do what is right.
“When you read the scriptures especially the Old Testament you are going to find that God set up memorials, monuments. When something happened, when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, when they crossed the Jordan River, whenever they did something monumental there was a monument that was created to remind them.
“Also feasts like Pentecost, Passover which are celebrated every year, now we celebrate Easter those are meant to call back a people to remind them of their genesis. Because if they can understand where they came from they will be able to determine where they are going,” said Dr Mumba.
Dr Mumba, who also served as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada from 2009 to 2011, said Christians should be able to direct the nation through prayer.
“We must find a way in which to influence our countries. Be present at independence, pray at independence, if they don’t give you a speech to give through your prayers speak.
“And direct the nation in prayer so that you can start to become part of the nation building. Christians must be seen to participate in independence celebrations, in national celebrations because we are Zimbabweans, we are Zambians although we are Christians. So we cannot be a cult on the side that just criticises everything,” affirmed Dr Mumba.
