THE church should not be ashamed to partner with government in delivering development to the people, President Edgar Lungu has said.
President Lungu said the State would not shy away from working with the church and that it cherished the partnership so far.
The Head of State said this when he handed over St Thomas Secondary School in Maposa area of Luanshya to the Catholic Church.
President Lungu said the school was part of the promises he made to residents in the area during campaigns for the Roan Constituency by-election two years ago.
He said the project was spearheaded by the Ndola Diocese as they also had plans to construct a school in the area.
President Lungu said the PF government was proud of its relationship with the church.
He said those who think the relationship was all about securing political power were wasting their time as the PF had maintained a close friendship with the church from the time it was in the opposition.
President Lungu, who funded the project promised to construct dormitories at the school and expressed happiness that teachers’ houses had been constructed.
And Copperbelt province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe said the PF government had scored highly in infrastructure development.
And Luanshya District Education Board Secretary, Chilombo Kabwe said St Thomas Secondary School would open its doors to learners in January next year.
Former Luanshya mayor, Nathan Chanda thanked government for not leaving the district behind with regards development.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has urged the church should to counsel politicians as they canvass for votes at their places of worship as the violence that has rocked the country is worrying.
President Lungu said the church should talk to political leaders and convert them.
The President said this at the commissioning of the paving project which he funded at Christ the King Cathedral for the Catholic Church in Ndola.
Meanwhile, Cathedral chairperson Dexter Ngwira thanked the President for coming to the aid of the church and wished him luck in the upcoming election.
