Republican President Edgar Lungu has called on the church to remain united and continue giving counsel to politicians in the country.

The Republican President says it is important that the church continue to guide politicians saying without God’s guidance it would be difficult for the country to maintain peace.

Speaking when he congregated at The United Church of Zambia St Luke’s Congregation in Pambashe Constituency in Kawambwa District yesterday morning, the President said he will not forget the church because that is where he has grown from.

“Pray for politicians and everyone else so that we maintain the peace that Zambia has enjoyed for a long time as there are people who want to bring confusion but for as long as there is God, he will always prevail,” the President said.

And The United Church of Zambia Luapula Presbytery Bishop Reverend Darius Chitalu thanked government for distributing farming inputs on time this farming season.

Reverend Chitalu said the church is hopeful that the price of maize in next year’s maize marketing season will please the farmer.

“Your Excellency we thank you for government delivery of farming inputs on time, it is however, our hope that the maize price per bag next year will be one that pleases the farmer,” Bishop Chitalu said.

The Bishop has since pledged the church’s continued commitment towards the provision of social services to the people in communities.

“Your Excellency as a church we remain committed to providing services like schools in our communities, we encourage you as leaders to work hard and ensure we maintain peace and maintain our economy well.

And in his homily Reverend Joseph Silavwe emphasised the need not to segregate based on tribe saying Zambia is one and a Christian Nation whose values does not know tribe.

The Reverend called on the people to choose political leaders based on their manifesto and not tribe.

“Political office is like a marriage proposal where we only tell our spouses to be what we will do best once married, their is no tribe involved in marriage proposal and that is how it should be even in politics because that is what God wants, and we are all one in the eyes of God,” he said.

The government has released K10 million for the construction of a crossing point on the Kafue River in Kafue National Park and for the completion of the construction of Chisokone Market in Kitwe on the Copperbelt Province.

Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe disclosed the development when he accompanied Nkana Member of Parliament Honorable Alexander Chiteme in the Mufuchani resettlement area where the displaced families of the Luyando community have been settled.

The National Coordinator further disclosed that his office has engaged more than 100 youths to mold blocks that will be used in the construction of various crossing points to be installed in the resettlement area.

Mr Kabwe said the government is happy that a number of families are now beginning to settle in the land government gave them after being displaced.

He also said that government will this rain season not spend much in relief food distribution because people have moved from floods prone areas into safe zones.

He stated that his team will ensure that they monitor the works in the resettlement area so that people can have passable roads to move their goods.

And responding to the concerns of the residents about the tents that are leaking following the downpour, the National Coordinator said he will engage his team to ensure the problem is rectified in the quickest possible time.

Mr Kabwe however thanked the settlers for their cooperation and patience they showed to the government from the time they were internally displaced to the time they were allocated plots.

Meanwhile, Mr Alexander Chiteme who is also Minister of National Development Planning said he decided to visit the settlers because most of the people who have now settled in Mufuchani came from his constituency in Luyando Community within Kitwe District.

Hon Chiteme said he will do everything possible in collaboration with the Kwacha Member of Parliament Joseph Malanji to make the living conditions of the settlers habitable.

He said his office will also ensure the necessary amenities are installed in the resettlement area so that people will not have to move long distances to access them.

The Minister indicated that his office is in talks with the Ministry of Health to ensure that health posts also set up in the area to service the settlers.

Hon Chiteme said the move to construct health facilities in the resettlement area will also help decongest the existing health facilities in Kitwe District.

He called on DMMU National Coordinator to ensure the concerns of people are addressed as soon as possible.

He however thanked the office of the Vice President for its continued commitment towards serving humanity.

And Vice President Inonge Wina was in Kitwe to hand over offer letters and building materials to 500 flood victims and Luyando community squatters whose houses were demolished by Mopani Copper Mines-MCM.

“It is the first time in the history of the country that such a huge number of families has been empowered with land and building materials,” said Mrs Wina.

Mrs. Wina further urged citizens to move away from areas that are prone to disasters and natural calamities before the onset of the rains.

This is according to a statement issued yesterday to the media by DMMU Senior Communications Officer Matthews Musukwa.

President Edgar Lungu has pledged K15, 000 to Mtendere Catholic church. He said the pledge will help the parish complete the project of purchasing air conditioners for the church as the number of congregates keeps on increasing.

In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili during the fundraising family picnic braii for Mtendere Catholic church in Lusaka, President Lungu said the increasing numbers of parishioners shows that people are still interested in matters of Christianity.

Dr. Lungu stated that the increase in numbers of parishioners may lead to ventilation or unfavorable temperatures which should not stop people from worshiping.

He further stated that his office is aware of parishioner’s passion to support the noble cause of purchasing air conditioners which is inevitable.

President Lungu urged other churches to emulate the commendable efforts of Mtendere Parish which is involved in a number of community support activities like looking after the aged, orphans and the local hospice.

He added that his government still upholds the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation and continues to work hand in hand with the church in enhancing the social and economic development of the country.

“You have always been our partners in development and we should continue moving in this direction for the betterment of our nation,” said Dr Lungu.

President Lungu asked the church to pray for peace, unity and love as the country goes to the polls next year.

He called on the church to honour God by adhering to the national values and principles and the Christian values on which the nation in founded.

“Let us not forget that we are duty-bound to commit to all spiritual matters and this demonstrates unity which should be encouraged not only here but in our nation at large,” added the President.

Dr. Lungu commended Mtendere Parish for their commitment in ensuring that they put up a decent place of worship.

Meanwhile, Mtendere Parish Priest Father Bryson Phiri thanked the president for the donation saying that it will go a long way in ensuring that the church has a proper ventilation system.

Father Phiri highlighted that the fundraising braii was meant to fundraise money to purchase air conditioners for the parish as well as to allow parishioners to celebrate together as a family in Christ.

He indicated that the event which was scheduled to take place in April was postponed to 28th of November 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The fundraising event was held at Plush Gardens in Lusaka and was attended by parishioners and other well-wishers from all walks of life.

Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has appealed to Members of Parliament to allocate part of their Constituency Development Fund towards the construction of local courts in their respective constituencies.

Mr Lubinda who is on a judicial court infrastructure and fact finding tour in Western province made the appeal when visited Kaoma and Nkeyema.

He said the court infrastructure in Zambia leaves a lot to be desired, and that’s why the Ministry of Justice is working extra hard to work on the infrastructure around the country.

Mr Lubinda stated that the PF government’s vision for the country is that every constituency should have at least one local court and every district to have a subordinate Court.

He said Government is still struggling to provide court rooms for superior courts such as the Court of appeal, the constitutional Court and that members of the superior courts are having to share chambers and the executive is thinking more towards that.

The Minister further noted that for the government to achieve all this there’s need to collaborate with various agents of change and Members of Parliament are a very important agent of change.

He said the members of Parliament should emulate constituency development fund Committee for Nkeyema who have allocated Two hundred and fifty thousand kwacha (K250, 000) to the construction of a local court.

During the tour in Nkeyema and Kaoma, the Minister said he was impressed with other developmental projects which were coming up especially in Nkeyema district.

He said the story of Nkeyema is a success story of decisions of government, and 8years later everyone is beginning to see the fruits of declaration of Nkeyema as a district.

In Kaoma district the Minister said he was impressed with District and all the heads of departments for the initiative of a community led project which has resulted in the construction of holding cell at Kaoma police station.

The Minister said when all institutions of government work together as a team there’s lot that can be achieved within a short period of time.

Nkeyema acting District Commissioner Patrick Mweemba has appealed to the government through the minister if the Mongu Lusaka road could be worked on as soon as possible, while district commissioner for Kaoma Kennedy L. Mubanga has lamented about the deplorable state of the district administration block.

Solwezi District Commissioner, Rosemary Kamalonga has called on the church to get involved in the rehabilitation of inmates in the country.

Speaking at a thanks giving prayer service for inmates held at St. Daniel Catholic Church in Solwezi today, Ms Kamalonga said the church should not relent in rehabilitating inmates during their stay in correctional facilities and after being discharged.

Ms Kamalonga said to some inmates, being in prison could just be preparation for greater opportunities.

“Men and women of God should be involved in the correcting and rehabilitating of our brothers and sisters who found themselves in conflict with the law because God created everyone for a purpose”, Ms Kamalonga said.

She said the inmates need counseling and prayers on admission, during their stay and after being discharged from correctional facilities.

Ms. Kamalonga also urged the Church to pray for the families of inmates and the community as a whole to accept the offenders as they go back into society.

She said the Christian community should continue offering inmates with financial and material support and also visiting them regularly.

Ms. Kamalonga paid tribute to President Edgar Lungu for the unwavering support to the correctional service.

“Even in our province Northwestern.. we have the construction of two new modern correctional facilities with the capacity of 250 inmates to be constructed in Mufumbwe and Chavuma districts respectively.

Meanwhile, the District commissioner assured the inmates of government support.

” My dear inmates being in prison is not the end of life, you can make it and become meaningful citizens in future,” she said.

And speaking at the same function Solwezi central correctional facility Officer in Charge, Levy Mwanza thanked President Edgar Lungu for the support he has rendered to the facilities in Northwestern province.

Mr Mwanza said the correctional facilities received three buses, five trucks, an Ambulance, a twin cab, two tractors and three big generators.

He said all these have added morale as inmates are no longer using hoes to cultivate.

“This year the correctional service in Northwestern Region is cultivating 130 hectares of white maize, 35 hectors of soya bean, cassava, sweet potatoes and water melons” he revealed.

Mr Mwanza said it is the duty of society to embrace the former inmates back into society and help them avoid going back by according them love.

This year’s thanks giving prayer service is held under the theme: “Remember those in prison with passion.

The 37-year-old man of Livingstone, who compromised Vice President, Inonge Wina’s security detail, by overtaking her motorcade, has been charged with 3 offences, under the Road Traffic Act.

This was on November 24, 2020, during Ms Wina’s recent visit to Livingstone.

The accused, Innocent Shula has since appeared before Livingstone Senior Magistrate, Trevor Kasanda.

In count one, Shula is charged with the offence of dangerous driving, contrary to section 1-hundred and 55 of the Road Traffic Act Number 11 of 2002.

Shula is, in the second count, charged for failing to obey a police officer’s signal, by driving recklessly and dangerously overtaking the Vice President’s motorcade.

And in the third count, Shula is charged with the use of unregistered motor vehicle on a public road without certification.

Particulars of the offence are that on the material day, Shula, who was driving an unregistered Toyota Mark X, recklessly used a public road, without regard to the circumstances of the case, condition and the use of the road.