• PRESIDENTIAL Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe (left) hands over the keys to the vehicles to Chilenje Saint Joseph parish priest Francis Zulu as Justice Minister who is also Kabwata member of Parliament Given Lubinda (second right) and the rest look on in Lusaka yesterday. Picture By EMILY KUWEMA

By EMILY KUWEMA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has responded to the needs of Saint Joseph Parish in Chilenje by donating two vehicles and an undisclosed amount of money and took advantage of the occasion to urge the church to denounce violence.
The funds would be channeled towards the completion of the ablution block at the church while the rest of the money would be used to construct the Parish Priest Francis Zulu’s house while the vehicles were meant to ease the transport challenges at the church.
Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda, joined by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, made the donation on behalf of President Lungu in Lusaka yesterday.
“As Kabwata Member of Parliament am very grateful to the President for the support that he has rendered to Saint Joseph Parish here in Chilenje,” Mr Lubinda said
Mr Lubinda said President Lungu was very particularly concerned about the emergence of the “ugly head” of political violence in Moomba Constituency in Monze where Patriotic Front cadres were attacked during recently.
Mr Lubinda said the Head of State urged the Saint Joseph congregants to refrain from violent activities, but that they should instead be ambassadors of peace wherever they went.
Mr Lungu assigned the two dignitaries to hand over the mentioned items following the complaint the congregation made him during his visit.
Father Zulu thanked the President and Mr Lubinda, who is Justice Minister, for the gesture.
Fr Zulu assured the President that the funds would be used for the intended purpose while the two vehicles would be used specifically for pastoral work.