PRESIDENT Banda has advised parents, especially fathers, to spend more quality time with their children to help curb moral decay.
Mr Banda said if parents spend more time with their children and instill discipline in them, Zambia would be assured of responsible citizens.
“All societies are founded on sound fatherhood and sonship or daughtership. Fatherhood stands for responsibility and mentorship while sonship stands for obedience. That is why fatherhood and sonship is centre in every society.
“When children do not turn out right, we blame them and parents do not look at themselves as the possible cause. Let us find time to spend with our children because this will make a difference to our society,” he said.
The president said this at the first national Father and Son dinner hosted by Northmead Assemblies of God Church at Lusaka’s Intercontinental Hotel on Friday night under the ‘authentic fatherhood and sonship’.
He said the behaviour of a grown-up child depends on counsel from the parents and fatherhood should be beyond biological children because it is a gift from God.
Mr Banda said the mistake many parents make is to provide financial and material support without considering the needs of children.
He said children want the presence of a parent to provide friendship, mentorship and leadership in their lives.
Mr Banda said it is from the home that every citizen is told to respect others and that is why it is cardinal for parents not to insult because children look up to parents for direction in life, to be kind to others and generous.
“I am very proud to be the President of Zambia because whenever I go out people say Zambians are great, kind people, full of smiles which shows that our fathers brought us all up in a good way. Even in our first President, Dr [Kenneth] Kaunda, we had a good father,” Mr Banda said.
He said, as a father of the nation, he takes criticism in positive way because he carries problems of 11 million people.
Mr Banda said he has accepted that as a father of the nation he does not have to take to heart criticism but take it as checks and balances in building a better Zambia.
He urged all fathers in the country to develop good and reaffirming relationships with their wives and children, especially sons.
Mr Banda said, however, that when the children become adults they too should look after their parents.
Northmead Assemblies of God Bishop Joshua Banda said the church has realised that fatherhood plays an important role in bringing up children into responsible citizens.
He said many children are on the streets because fathers have abandoned their important role in the family and left everything to mothers.
Bishop Banda said the church was also concerned about a culture of insults that is creeping into Zambian society.
“Fathers need to rise up and stop the insults. As a church and Christian nation, we will not accept insults. Our obligation is to respect the current leadership,” he said.
Visiting South African pastor Johan Cronje urged Zambians to pray for the President as the father of the nation.
He said a head of state has many issues to attend to and needs God’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda has said Zambians should work together in exploring natural resources that will pave way for economic and national development.
Mr Banda said Zambia is a great nation that has been blessed by God with abundant natural resources that are yet to be explored.
“We need to calm down, plan together and explore the natural resources. All things we are quarrelling about are not necessary,” he said.
Mr Banda said conflict has never enhanced development as can be seen in countries that are mineral-rich but embroiled in fights.
[Times of Zambia]
This is very good, wise and timely advice Mr. President.
ni do as I say or as I do?
Great piece advice. Now let’s see if the president will follow thru and spend more time at home instead of being gone much of the time.
Iwe #3 Larry The President is the Father of the whole nation so he has to go and look for whats good for the Country. All the time you want to be in contrast.
Iwe # 4, what do you mean he is the father of the nation, if he was he would have been looking out for every one and not only his biological children who seem to be getting all the juicy contracts!! Half the times he’s out of the country so when does he spend quality time with “ba mpundu”? Has he seen what has happened to his friend in Swaziland for not spending quality time with his wife and kids? He shall be “assisted” if he’s not careful ka.
Look whose talkign he spends his time travelling and who is with his children….ohhhh please!
if only we can practice what we teach!!!
# 5 spot on ,it is true Ba kasanga balebafwa,abalumendo ba pa zedi bambi baliyafyia tabatina na ba mukabene.Which happens to be a frightening trend at home.
Ubu ebucilande-lande tweba, how can you advis others when you yourself are worse than a garden boy! Please, give genuine advice based on genuine principles, it is not just a matter of talking about whatever comes into your mind. It should be real.
Uyu Umufufyashi wabufi Tamona Skirt !
So the church really exists pa Zed? Ku ma functions fye!