Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
HE President Elect Edgar Chagwa Lungu & First Lady Mrs Easter Lungu being blessed by Fr Vincent Tembo during Family Mass at State Lodge Devine Mercy Parish Church – Picture by State House
President Elect Edgar Lungu says the plans to create a ministry to deal with religious affairs means well contrary to assertions that he is abusing the church.
President Lungu is concerned that the pronouncement to create a ministry for religious affairs did not go well with some people who are of the view that he wants to hijack the church.
Speaking when he attended a thanks giving mass at State Lodge Divine Mercy Parish in Lusaka this morning, President Lungu says the church should not be threatened by the pronouncements coming from State House on the creation of a new ministry.
He says by coming up with a ministry for Religious Affairs, he wants to harmonize the states relationship with the church and also help find an easy way to address the challenges that the church is facing citing that the state cannot take over the church.
President Lungu says Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Rowland Msiska is thus meeting with the church mother bodies to see how best the ministry can be established.
And the President Elect has asked the church to pray for peace and unity in the country adding that there is need for a spirit of oneness amongst Zambians.
He has asked people to observe the rule of law and respect established institutions such as the courts.
And Bauleni Second Parish Priest Fr. Vincent Tembo has encouraged Zambians to help lighten one another’s burden.
Father Tembo says people are called to be useful and of being useful is by helping each other which he says can only be done if people love one another.
And Parish Chairman Markpaul Nyirongo expressed sadness that recently, some people broke into the church and stole musical instruments stressing that this is a setback for the church.
He also took time to highlight some of the challenges the church is facing among them the church land having no title.