Lungu calls for closer ties with Church

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:59:02 +0000

Roger Kalero

GOVERNMENT will continue to nurture and enhance its relationship with the Church because the latter has always provided guidance to the country in both good and difficult times, President Edgar Lungu has said.

President Lungu said the creation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs was a clear indication that his Government wanted to strengthen its relationship with the Church, especially that Zambia was a Christian nation. The President was speaking yesterday at St Margaret United Church of Zambia (UCZ) congregation in Kitwe in a speech read for him by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe during the induction service of Reverend Chipasha Musaba as UCZ Copperbelt presbytery bishop.

“The Church is the light and salt of the earth and this is why the PF government will continue to nurture and enhance its relationship with the Church. When we face challenges as a Government, we look up to the Church to put the nation in God’s hands through prayers. For the UCZ, it has always been a partner of the Government and this is why this Government always responds to its calls to show the magnitude of the relationship between the Government and UCZ,” the  President said.

The Head of State reminded Bishop Musaba that he was taking over the office of Bishop Sydney Sichilima who had been elected to the office of Synod Bishop and should therefore tread cautiously in the administration of the church.

President Lungu urged the newly inducted presbytery bishop to be humble and always consult church members on various issues.

Mr Sikazwe was accompanied by Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo, Copperbelt PF provincial chairman Stephen Kainga and other officials.