Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Hon. Godfridah Sumaili MP has encouraged the Church, Religious and Faith-Based organisations to apply for the COVID-19 empowerment fund the Ministry has rolled out.
Speaking today when she met leaders of Churches with Networks Rev. Sumaili said it is sad that some people want to politicize the empowerment fund when it was clear that the church has also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She stated that government appreciates the role the church and its partners play in supplementing government efforts in alleviating the suffering of the communities in which they operate.
Rev. Sumaili explained that the sensitization meetings that the Ministry is having with targeted groups were aimed at equipping them with adequate information on how the empowerment scheme will operate.
She said the 50 Million Kwacha empowerment fund is aimed at stimulating the economy and ensuring sustenance of the church and its activities.
She further explained that the Ministry will only give out grants to Churches with Networks, Church Mother bodies, Religious Organisations, Faith-Based Organisations and Cooperatives run by the Church who in turn will give out loans to their members as a revolving fund.
The Minister has however, appealed to the would be beneficiaries to exhibit high levels of integrity, accountability, honesty and transparency as they administer the loans to the end users.
And President of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God in Zambia, Bishop Dr. Joshua Banda has thanked President Edgar Lungu for the initiative.
Dr. Banda said the church in Zambia should use this opportunity to grow its capacity and demonstrate accountability in the utilization of the funds.
The Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs has so far held meetings with some Church Mother Bodies, Lusaka Ministers Fellowship leaders and leaders of Churches with Networks in Lusaka.
THE MOST PROFITABLE ORGANISATION IN THE WORLD APPLYING FOR FUNDING
THIS IS CRAZY PERHAPS NOT SEEING ITS COMING FROM A NO BRAINER GOVERNMENT
This old hen Godfridah Sumaili has no shame at all throwing taxpayer’s money all over the place bribing churches!!
Students are crying for tution fees, pupils in rural areas are have issues paying fees and this Godfridah Sumaili wants to give free money to churches that do not have any audit systems, pay zero tax and receive free money every week for nothing!!
As a Christian nation this is a very good gesture from the ministry. Lesa wamaka.
Those in diaspora criticising we know that you are claiming state help due to covid there abroad. So why shouldn’t we help our people through churches which reach out to community
As a Christian nation this is a very good gesture from the ministry. Lesa wamaka.
Those in diaspora criticising we know that you are claiming state help due to covid there abroad. So why shouldn’t we help our people through churches which reach out to community? You are all pwazis which are dry
A CHRISTIAN NATION IN NAME ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW MANY RELIGIONS DO WE HAVE HERE…. ARE THEY OF NO CONSQUENCE ??
DOESNT THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE SAY “THOU SHALL NOT STEAL”
OR HAS YOUR LORD EXEMPT SOME OF PF OFFICIALS
4 more months no more Sumaili, no more Joshua Banda. They will go to hell with PF.
U are begging for a $1.3 Bill in Cash Bailout from IMF while u are Printing Billions of Kwacha to buy votes. U failing to pay interest to Eurobond Holders a mounting $100 million. U are allowing Minister of Foreign Affairs to import a Helicopter costing $5 million. Do these Expenditure Policies make sense?
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA SHOULD NOT GIVE MONEY TO CHURCHES. INSTEAD THEY SHOULD USE THAT MONEY TO BUY COVID-19 VACCINES INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR DONATED VACCINES FOR ITS PEOPLE.
Can someone justify why we are giving money to churches seeing as they don’t add to the government’s tax basket?
It would make much more sense to empower SMEs with that money. It would be logical to give that money to registered bus owners, saloons, registered kantembas or indeed any other entities that empower people.
Giving to the church is simply giving to the pastor.
Has someone made an assessment of the effect of covid on churches? A number of churches are running hospitals and schools which could be struggling, why not channel funds there. Why directly to the churches? This money will just end up at the HQs of most of these denominations….What is shocking this time around is even the respected Catholic churches are receiving cash from Politicians???????
Sumaili urged churches to get the hands on the clergy bribe fund.
GOVERNMENT IS IN DENIAL WITH A FIGURE OF 5,000
YET A REPORT SUGGESTS “MAYBE” 92 x that ……….. yet a lot say PROPAGANDA !! EVEN IF ITS 5 X the Gov figure isnt that bad enough
HOW CAN YOU ARGUE WITH ILLERATES ??
THE PRESIDENT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD HIS PLUS his INNER CIRCLE
IF THEY HAPPY SO ARE WE
This is good surely. I am asking how can we access the application forms? Because i have tried to look around but i can’t see the application forms, we want also to apply. I am a Reverend.