“The Church is a Partner of Government not a Competitor”

President Hakainde Hichilema  says the church is a strategic partner of government and not its competitor.

President Hichilema says the two are one because government is drawn from the community where the church is a critical member.

He has since called for decent discourse and dialogue in times of differences.

President Hichilema has also called for unity, love and mutual respect among all citizens.

The President has said this today during a Clergy Prayer and Envisioning Gathering held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

President Hichilema said compassion, humility and forgiveness should guide all citizens.

He has also underscored the importance of hard work and diligence in order to grow the economy.

President Hichilema has further said the country should find it pleasurable to talk about unity and uncomfortable to discuss matters that breed divisions.

And President Hichilema has called on Zambians to appreciate and not forget the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation by the late second Republican President Frederick Chiluba.

He  said there is need for Zambians to internalize the national values and principles and live by them.

And National Day of Prayer and Fasting Chairperson, Robert Sihubwa said that the major purpose of the gathering was to envision the journey for the National Day of Prayer and Fasting which falls on October 18.

Father Sihubwa said there are a number of programmes lined up to this year’s National Day of Prayer and Fasting, which falls on October 18.

Meanwhile, during a panel discussion, Council of Churches in Zambia General Secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya said the church provides pastoral care to their flock in order to enforce national values and principles.

Bishop Chikoya said the church has continued to play a critical role in the country by promoting accountable justice, peace and reconciliation.

And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Representative, Brian Bwalya  said the church must be able to empathize matters of unity in diversity and to pray for the economic development of the country.

Meanwhile, Independent Churches of Zambia Representative, Eusebi Muloshi said the church can promote social justice and support vulnerable communities.

Bishop Muloshi said churches can also advocate for human rights by condemning vices such as human trafficking and Gender Based Violence.

Also on the panel was Bread of Life International Youth Pastor, Benjamin Mwape, who called on the church to invest in youths so that they can be used to drive the national development agenda.