Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:26:59 +0000
By Violet Tembo And Rogers Kalero
PRESIDENT Edger Lungu has donated K750,000 to Catholic Diocese of Ndola which will go towards construction of 25 housing units to accommodate 125 priests.
And various political leaders which include Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, parliamentarians, council chairpersons, civil servants and representative from the business community have pledged finances totalling over K900,000 towards the project.
Speaking at the Cathedral of Christ the King after he participated in the fundraising walk which covered 4.2 kilometres, President Lungu informed Ndola Diocese Bishop Dr. Alick Banda to approach his office for any shortfall of the budget in the range of K4-4 million in addition to the contribution he made.
President Lungu repeated governments’ commitment to continue working with the church regardless of the utterances they make to politicians.
He said the government was not supporting the church because of the positive remarks made but urged the church to continue engaging politicians.
He reminded the church of its role of advising and criticizing politicians in the country.
And speaking at the same event, Finance Minister Felix Mutati said the step taken by the Head of State to invoke Article 31 of the constitution was in good faith to protect the children of God.
And earlier in Kitwe, President Lungu advised the Kitwe City Council (KCC) to be civil when dealing with issues relating to street vendors because they were also important.
And President Lungu has also disclosed that Government would look for funds for the council to carry out major rehabilitation works to improve infrastructure at the sprawling Chisokone market in Kitwe.
He said he was saddened and was made to cry when he heard about the death of a Kitwe street vendor who died after being involved in a scuffle with council police officers in Kitwe two weeks ago.
President Lungu said he was disappointed that, out of desperation for power, some politicians had gone to gain political mileage at the funeral house of the deceased vendor by promising that if voted into government, they would bring back vendors on the streets.
