Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:57:14 +0000
Dear Editor
A national day of prayer is biblical. Even the United States has a national day of prayer. The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation” and all Americans regardless of political affiliation observe this day.
The Bible is replete with accounts of Kings dressed in sackcloth, as a show of repentance and remorse joined their subjects in offering prayers when the situation demanded.
Therefore those making fun of this day are digging their own graves because Zambians have long memories, they remember those who shun and deride the appellation that this country enjoys as a “Christian Nation”
The various attempts to politicise this day by the politicians should not be allowed to carry the day because their days as mere mortals are numbered while the declaration will stand into eternity. This day should be observed by all religious groups including the Moslems and Hindu’s because prayers of supplications know no religious denomination, they are a prayer to the superior deity to which we all originate and enjoy life.
This day reminds us of our vulnerability to natural and man-made circumstances that can very easily destabilise and upset the peace that we currently enjoy. People are dying in California from wild fire, a few days ago hurricanes laid waste many parts of the Caribbean and indeed the USA claiming lives and wreaking havoc. The people were helpless in spite of being highly advanced. They could only watch and pray.
We should not take our peace and tranquillity for granted and must therefore bow down in prayer and as a nation thank God that we still have our founding President and his colleagues still around witnessing the peaceful evolution of our country.
We have managed to have five Presidents without major upheaval and unrest, while many of our neighbours have not had the same fortune. For this we should be ever grateful and condemn those who would want to plunge us into turmoil, misunderstanding and tribal conflict.
It is important that we observe this day as unique occasion we can all seek the face of our creator and implore him to give us many more days in which we can continue to live as brothers and sisters in the manner that our national anthem demands.
Franklin Mwamba
