Thursday, March 28, 2024

Zambians pray for peace

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HUNDREDS of Zambians, among them President Rupiah Banda yesterday attended a prayer service in Lusaka to pray for peace as the country goes to the polls in less than a week.

The three Church mother bodies – Council of Churches in Zambia, Zambia Episcopal Conference, and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia – mobilised a prayer rally for people from all walks of life at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka, where different speakers passionately spoke about the need for Zambians to safeguard peace.

The service attended by various Church, political party, traditional leaders and Government officials showed unity as prayers were being conducted for Zambia to go through a peaceful electoral process.

In attendance were President Rupiah Banda, former first republican president Kenneth Kaunda, Chief Chipepo of the Tonga-speaking people, former MMD chief whip Vernon Mwaanga, and MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe.

Among some political party representatives were Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda, National Restoration Party (NAREP) vice-president Charles Maboshe, and Forum for Progressive Politics (FPP) secretary general Charles Kafunda.

The prayer service which was held under the theme ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God, Mathews 5 verse 9’ was also broadcast live on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation television.

Speaking during the service, CCZ reverend Moses Mwale who delivered the homily said Zambia was known globally as a Christian nation where every citizen should be an initiator of peace and denounce politicians who agitated for violent campaigns.

“It is the responsibility of every Zambian to guard the peace and denounce those perpetrating violence. The Bible demands that all Christians should embrace one another and to be peacemakers,” he said.

Rev Mwale appealed to all Church leaders to disseminate messages that unite people, saying it would be sad to lose the peace that citizens enjoyed. EFZ Bishop Andrew Mwenda, who was also the master of ceremony, called on Zambians to elect mature and God-fearing leaders with a vision to develop the country.

Chief Chipepo asked Zambians to remain prayerful and ask God for answers to the country’s sustained peace. The chief who spoke on behalf of all 286 traditional leaders said Zambia needed a visionary leader to move the country forward.

And Bishop Joshua Banda of Northmead Assemblies for God appealed to all Zambians to be united and elect leaders who would continue to preach peace and unity. Dr Kaunda called on Zambians to remain united during and after elections and continue to advocate for genuine peace.

President Banda, who arrived around 13:00 hours, was received at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross by Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Sherry Thole, defence chiefs and some clergymen.

Speaking during the fully packed church service, Mr Banda said Zambians should feel safe and secure as the country goes to the polls because he had a responsibility as Head of State to ensure peace and harmony prevailed during the elections.

“I merely came here to say thank you to the Church and various men and women of God for organising this prayer rally. I believe through prayers from all Church leaders and our chiefs, Zambians should feel safe and secure. “It is my responsibility as president to ensure the safety of all Zambians during elections,” President Banda said

He said he did not take the people of Zambia for granted and would ensure peace continued to prevail. He said during all his political campaigns countrywide, he had been preaching messages of peace because that was what he had always wanted to see as the country goes to the polls.

President Banda said he could not hide the fact that his interest was to ask the people of Zambia to re-elect him as Republican president on September 20 so that he could continue with the task of uplifting the welfare of all Zambians.

Mr Banda, however, said if another political party leader was elected, he would concede defeat because leadership was God given. “If any of my brothers is elected into office as we hold our elections, I will accept it because that would be God’s will and we can’t dispute it,” he said.

Mr Banda, who was in jovial mood, thanked political party leaders and representatives who attended the prayer service which he described as a significant event to unite the people of Zambia. And responding to Chief Chipepo who asked him to declare the remaining eight days as days of fasting and prayers for peace, Mr Banda said Cabinet Office through Dr Kanganja would consider the undertaking.

He said peace should be upheld because Zambia was a beacon of peace on the continent and was admired because of its abundant natural resources. Mr Banda said it should be a responsibility of every citizen to safeguard the natural resources through preserving of peace and harmony at all times.

President Banda, who described Dr Kaunda as a great statesman, praised the former Head of State for being an example to all Zambians and for participating in the prayer service aimed at building peace during and after elections.

[Times of Zambia]

9 COMMENTS

  1. Yaba, I guess peace is not important in Zambia. We need justice more than peace. Forced peace is not the solution to our progress BUT rather justice. My prayer thereore is that anyone found to be unjust (creating room for acrimony), greed and seeks self, own family at the expense of Zambians must not win or even die before the elections end. In jesus’ name

  2. Did Sata attend the peace prayers? I will be happy if he attended since thats the way to go, the church is doing so well in Zambia and since this is a process thats a plus for Zambia.

  3. LET THIS CHIEF GAY ALSO START ATTENDING PRAYERS. HE IS BETTER OFF PRAYING THAN COLLAPSING IN PROVINCES. WE WANT TO SEND THIS DICTATOR TO REST FOR GOOD.

  4. Were these prayers attended by invitation or by will? I think it was by invitation. If it was by invitation can we see the list of those who were invited. If it was by will did William Banda attend. WB needs prayers to dist from using violance and juju before during and after elections. By the way did he go to the Police last week?

  5. William Banda went to the Police last week but i am not sure of the outcome or maybe it is not for us for now. It is a good idea to see the list of invited guests for the prayer meeting as we have heard William Banda needs prayers and I think many more needs the prayers more than William Banda. The likes of the political analysist Dante Sanders, Chanda Chimba, Meembe Post, Kabimba, Luo, Sata, RB, Nsanda, GBM and the MMD guy who was calling for caders at central Police. Let us all pray for them before they commit more sins.

  6. Each one for himself and God for all, we don’t need prayers for elections, we need prayers for those people who suffering from diseases and living in poverty. If they like to pray so much, why don’t they  pray for the millions of unemployed in the country? Religion and politics should not mix, millions of people around the world have died in the name religion because of politics e.g former Yugoslavia. Each leader should pray for himself, ALONE!  

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