By JULIUS PHIRI –
GOVERNMENT has appealed to the Church to help in the fight against homosexuality which other countries around the world are advocating for.
Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone said during the launch of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Golden Jubilee celebrations in Chipata yesterday that there was need for the Church to render support to the fight against such practices.
“I call upon you the Church to assist in the fight against gayism in the country. I am fully aware that some countries are promoting such social vices while others are against that. We must never be part of that,” Mr Sichone said.
He called on the UCZ to extend its voice to issues of corruption which the Government was campaigning against.
He said it was sad that in some cases, Christians were engaged in corruption  in public offices.
Mr Sichone said corruption was denting the image of the Church due to the people who were committing such vices in public offices.
The minister also assured the Church that Government would review modalities in the distribution of inputs to small-scale farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
He explained that the Government would do everything possible to ensure that small-scale farmers started receiving the inputs before the planting season.
Speaking earlier, UCZ Synod Bishop Mutale Mulumbwa said the late distribution of farming inputs should be discouraged.
Bishop Mulumbwa said there was need to revisit the FISP in order to benefit the people.
He commended the Government for the various infrastructure development programmes taking place in the country.
Bishop Mulumbwa also said the UCZ was grappling with a number of challenges which needed resources.
The UCZ came into existence on January 16, 1965.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations would culminate into various activities until January 2015.