Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:52:25 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
UNITED Church of Zambia (UCZ) Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima has said people who set Lusaka City Market ablaze on Tuesday last week are cursed for destroying property belonging to thousands of innocent marketeers.
And President Lungu vowed not to allow people who promised Armageddon during campaigns to succeed with their mischief.
Bishop Sichilima said those who burnt City Market had invited a curse not just on themselves but on their families and the next generations.
He said the UCZ can never operate as a political party but was above narrow interests so that it remains true to its mission of preaching peace and unity.
“People shed tears. They are heartbroken because they have lost their livelihoods. That you don’t do because it is evil. The God we worship is greater than the dark spirits that want to destroy our country.
“I want to assure your Excellency that the God you have submitted before will protect the country and protect you,” he said.
The Head of State said his primary role was to protect the lives and property of Zambians.
Speaking during the benediction service of Reverend Serge Changa and his family at the UCZ Lilayi congregation, President Lungu said some people promised Armageddon during campaigns and Zambians were now seeing what they promised.
“No Zambian must be worried about the measured response we have taken to give police more powers to curb arson and vandalism of vital installations. We shall not act with cruelty but fairly and always in the interest of the nation.
“If the measures we have put in place don’t work we can go as far as a state of emergency to ensure that people are protected against lawlessness,” the President said.
President Lungu said UCZ had shown maturity in providing counsel to politicians as the Church was not biased.
“You have shown that you are not partisan you have clear roles of advising politicians,” President Lungu said.
He however told UCZ bishops to be free whenever they felt like providing advice to the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
President Lungu said there were some churches that were biased whenever providing counsel to politicians which was not right.
And Bishop Sichilima said the UCZ would not take sides in politics as it existed to offer spiritual guidance.
He encouraged the President not to be discouraged by the acts of terrorism because the terrorists were enemies of progress.
He said whoever was behind City Market inferno must turn to God and repent.
And delivering a sermon, Rev Dennis Sikazwe said Rev. Changa had been blessed by God to be on the doorway of Lilayi congregation.
And Church representative Mr. Fred Mutondo told President Lungu that UCZ Lilayi congregation had no transport, electricity supply and that the ablution blocks were not completed.
Mr. Mutondo said the men and women in uniform (police) were children of God as most members were police officers from Lilayi training college camp. In his response, Mr. Lungu directed his presidential affairs minister Freedom Sikazwe to engage the church committee to finalize the completion of a house foundation started in 2007.
President Lungu assured UCZ Lilayi congregation that his government would help in completing the church and build the ablution blocks.
