Construction of the National House of Prayers is projected to cost 10 million United States dollars.
National House of Prayers Advisory Board Chairperson Bishop Joshua Banda has confirmed the estimates in Lusaka.
At a press briefing Bishop Banda says the National House of Prayers will have a sitting capacity of seven thousand 500.
He also announced that the first fundraising session for the construction of the National House of Prayers takes place on Saturday -January 23, 2016 in Lusaka at New Government Complex.
Bishop Banda disclosed that President Edgar Lungu will be the Guest of Honour at the fundraising session.
And Government is impressed with the performance of some local contractors constructing public infrastructure in the newly created Rufunsa district.
Works and Supply Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali says government will continue working and empowering contractors who are performing well.
Dr Mwali who is on a phase two inspection tour of the construction of infrastructure in the newly created districts in country said this shortly after inspecting infrastructure in Rufunsa district.
Meanwhile, Rufunsa District Commissioner Judith Chama said some contractors delayed to started works because of the land wrangles which have since been resolved.
Ms Chama has since appealed to the contractors in the district to expedite the works in order to meet the March 2016 deadline.
In the midst of poverty, suffering and austerity measures, we as a poor country decide to invest $10 million in building a church. Aren’t there enough churches already? Every street corner you turn, you will find a church. There is no Zambian who will not be able to find a church to attend.
$10 million is too much given the economic problems and national debt we have
Bishop Banda, we know you are close to ECL, speak to him, he may listen to you
kwena this religion is really killing us. do you even know where christianity comes from? do you even know that the story of jesus is a myth dressed on a person that existed at some time around 4-37 C.E? the myth of such a person was lready in existence thousands of years before the so clled christ. Horus was the first one.there is mithra,zoroster,krishna, Quezalcoatl etc. there are actually 16 of these sviours. christianity stole these myths and superimposed them on a person and christianity as we know it today was born. this was canonised through the ecumenical councils that run through the 4th and 5th century C.E starting with the council of nicaea in 325AD. this council debated the authenticity of jesus as a savior or god. Arius refused to accept the trinity and thus was born the…
the apostolic creed and its declarations as a way to counter and force people to choose a set of laws which made christ god nd part of the trinity. Arius and his views were received an anathema for their stance. Anthanasius worn the day and we hve christianity as it is today. All this ws done at the instigation of constantine in his quest to unite the western and eastern (byzantine) roman empires. he knew that with religion or christinity all in agreement, then the empire would stand strong and he would rule easily as empire. Religion is a tool for manipulation, at its best its the deitification of a peoples culture. now ask yourselves whose culture are you deitifying by accepting the corrupted version of christinity as seen today? Be african in everything brethren.better to even worship…
Horus or Heru an african messiah than the hellenic basterdization of our myths and beliefs.
Why why why just why? Wrecking my brains here trying to work out the possible rationale behind all this nonsense.
That money could help UTH energy problems. Build an extension, more beds and mattresses, cleaning equipment….
Shocking, shocking, shocking! There`s something seriously wrong in Zambia.
Pastor Joshua Banda is even heading the so-called project. I guess this is guy who influenced Lungu to come up such an idea.
Raise the same money and build a bigger hospital to de congest UTH
So God won’t answer your prayers wherever you are unless you are at the expensive ‘house of prayers’? Guys, this is why our last national prayers weren’t answered, too many ulterior motives being brewed by our leaders.
This is where we go wrong what has happened to the current houses of prayers? The majestic Cathedral of the holy cross and others? If you think the place is getting small even the new one will not accommodate everyone. The simple solution to the problem is make all important state functions to these places by invitation only. Do you think Westminster Abbey is a 10,000 capacity church? Even St Peter basilica cannot take the whole Rome!
what a wasteful government this is.
I have so much respect for Bishop Banda. I am a bit uncomfortable with how close he’s become to those who wield authority. Hope he will not be compromised.
I do also respect Bishop Banda. Its time the Bishop questioned this Project, building the House of Prayer. It sounds good, but what is the implication behind it. I think it would have been meaningful if the Body of Christ, the Christians build this building. The House of God shall be called House of prayer. If this building is constructed by the state it means all kind of religions including Satanists will have access to it. No person or religion will be stopped from using it because it is going to be constructed by using the public funds. There is no way Christians, Muslims, Satanists, Hindus etc. will compromise to worship in one place. Someone close to Bishop Joshua Banda should re-discuss this issue. The body of Christ should not compromise on this issue.
I am a Christian, and I say this:- It is WRONG and certainly very UNCHRISTIAN for anyone to take Tax payers money from Muslims, Moonies, Witch-Doctors, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists etc.. without their consent and build a ‘Christian’ House of Prayers, just as it is equally wrong to use Christian Tax payers’ money without their consent and build Mosques, Temples, Dens etc…. Period.
Any normal Zambian functioning adult following this story will not be f0oled by the gimmick that PF will do separate fundraising for this ill conceived plan to syphon and plunder public funds. This is grand theft in the making right under our noses. And I have no doubt Bishop Banda has been severely compromised.
Iam not a Christian but my tax will be used to build a worship house I will never use. It’s daylight robbery! Moslems Hindus Buddhists don’t ask Christians for money to build their mosques or temples. Why steal in God’s name?
This is campaign money. Smart way of Ssiphoning tax payer money
Opulence. Perhaps the wisdom of Solomon is lost on his sheeple.
God bless Zambia, God bless the President.
This is just disgusting pouring $10million in a useless building that will only be used once week…imagine how many existing schools that can be refurbished with that kind of money or libraries for our children?? What a bunch of reckless empty tins
If the government invested this money in a theatre that seats 7500 they would provide Lusaka with an arts centre which the city needs but severely lacks. The theatre would resurrect the showbiz industry and help ease unemployment. The south african govt has erected such a theatre in Soweto. From the rent govt would get back it’s money while unemployed youths would find self employment in the arts and various support industries
THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH MUNTU MUNYAMA BRAIN.
This Useless White Elephant in the midst of grinding poverty, disease, despair, hopelessness.
Our prioritising is that of a one cell amoeba.
No one will win except for the politicians who will corruptly siphon off some of the cash via dubious contact awarding, & the Men of the Cloth, who thrive through this religious deception.
Surely the U$D Ten Million can be put to better use, i.e, complete refurbishment of U.N.Z.A, thus Zambia would be investing in our future generations, & help cure the ignorance that causes Zambians’ to make Bad Choices like prioritising on this Useless house of Prayer.
As a nation, we shud have project priority areas where resources shud be directed to. Many children in Zambia are in the streets due to misplaced priorities.
JESUS IS LORD
Has Pastor Joshua Banda ever generated an income in his life?
Where on earth would a Pastor in a country that has no proper health facilities influence government to spend $10m to build a church.
What a waste!!! Has Lungu ever visited the UTH? When people call this Govt a C.N.P and cry out loud. This is what it means to have no vision, no planing, lack of priorities. Does this country need this building? The answer is a big NO! Which Christianity can the current government talk about? Like Christ said, you will know them by their fruitage, so far, I see hate, greed, vengeance, corruption and outright lack morality, indeed this clique is morally bankrupt. The greed also exhibited by these so-called pastors and bishops is really alarming. They are driven by a hunger for money, and they can even worship the devil for riches.
Mmmmm don’t we hv jus too many churches arnd? All the same we cn be using hero’s stadium or mwanawasa stadium, $ 10 million for a church is jus too much
WHATEVER HAPPENS THIS NATIONAL BUILDING OF PRAYERS SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC CONCERN IN THE MOST PRACTICAL MANNER. MOST CLERGY MEN AND WOMEN ARE BUT THIEVES. SO, BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD TO CONSTRUCT THIS TABERNACLE CITIZENS NEED TOBE SHOWN AND APPROVE THE PLAN. IT SHOULD BE FLOCKED FOR COMPETITION ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ZAMBIAN ARCHITECTURES ALONE WILL JUST MOULD A PIG STYLE. THEY HAVE NO DEEP INNOVATIVE MINDS WHERE ARCHITECTURE IS CONCERNED. FURTHER, STILL THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS OF THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC FOR ALL TO MONITOR. AND THE ACCOUNTS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON PUBLIC MEDIA OR ELSE ZAMBIANS DON’T HAVE TO DONATE TOWARDS IT AS IT WOULD BE A USELESS THING IF IT STARTS WITH IMPUNITY.
Our God deserves the best! $10m is nothing in God’s sight. Wealth belongs to him (Haggai 2:8; Psalm 24:1). He will, by his grace, avail wealth to build his house of worship (Acts 17:24,25). Take note of the following statement: “He also announced that the first fundraising session for the construction of the National House of Prayers takes place on Saturday -January 23, 2016 in Lusaka at New Government Complex.” The state will not build this temple, but money from well wishers. So, set your mind at rest. But most importantly, you who talk ill of God and the Church, repent and return to the Lord. He is waiting (2 Peter 3:9).
This is also the rubbish you get in your bible..promoting incest;
Genesis 19:32
Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
Jay jay, ever heard of John 3:16? I Hope one day you will find it in your heart to love God.
Jay Jay in those days there was no incest. Remember after eating the apple Adam ‘ s kids had to multiply with each other or is that so? . Just trying to get the logic behind the move
I am just wondering the kind and sort of reporter wrote this piece. ” seven thousand 500″. There are rules in grammar and this one is one of the kind. Further, the shift from the house of prayer to the construction of the district bears no relationship. And the way I see it, the house of prayer is Lungu’s project not backed by any law and hence his fund raising ventures – this is more like what would have been Chiluba’s college but got doomed. Government projects are not funded by proceeds of dinner dances and pledges thereof. One might be tempted to think this is a Lungu’s church that will keep him busy after failing to secure another term of office.