By CHILA NAMAIKO –

• PRESIDENT Lungu and First Lady, Esther, during the 15th anniversary of the Bible Gospel Church in Africa at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka yesterday.
Picture courtesy of STATE HOUSE

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has reiterated his call to the Church to use its influence to denounce political violence and pray for peace and unity ahead of the August 11 general elections.
Meanwhile, Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) presiding Bishop Peter Ndhlovu has condemned politicians that are issuing threats against the Head of State.
Last week, United Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president for administration, Geoffrey Mwamba allegedly issued a threat to the President, indicating that he would go for his throat.
Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, has since been arrested.
Mr Lungu said the Church needed to preach love and strongly intervene in all ways by urging politicians to refrain from violent acts and hate speech that threatens national stability.
“Do not be afraid to forthrightly condemn violence. The Church should not relent from carrying out this noble duty but should instead continue to pray for peace before, during and after the elections.
“Let us not destroy what we have laboured to build in the last 51 years of our cherished nation,” he said.
President Lungu was speaking when he officiated at the 15th anniversary of the BIGOCA, at Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka yesterday held under the theme ‘Arise and shine in the year of rest-Isaiah 60 verse 1’.
Mr Lungu, who was accompanied by First Lady Esther, and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, said Government would continue to value the relationship with the Church and would stand ready to receive any guidance whenever necessary.
He said the Church should be vigilant and condemn propaganda being perpetrated by some sections of society because Zambia had been known as a beacon of peace, which could not be sacrificed for individual selfish motives.
“If we seriously embrace Christian virtues, the sporadic incidences of violence that our country is currently facing would be avoided. We must always remember that there will be a day of reckoning for the violent acts that some politicians continue to instigate for their selfish motives,” he said.
He appealed to BIGOCA and other church congregations to help foster peaceful elections by preaching love, peace and unity, which he said, was his desire.
The President called on the people of Zambia from various church congregations to turn out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.
Earlier, Bishop Ndhlovu said BIGOCA was dismayed with some politicians threatening to attack President Lungu instead of advocating messages of goodwill to foster national unity.
He encouraged Mr Lungu to remain steadfast and not to be derailed from carrying out his noble duties by some sections of society, who wanted to frustrate his efforts of developing the country.
He said, although BIGOCA was non-partisan, it would continue to support the government of the day through many ways aimed at fostering development.
In his sermon, visiting BIGOCA presiding bishop of South Africa Victor Madzinge called on Zambians to continue upholding Christian values.
President Lungu with his wife and former President Rupiah Banda, who also attended the anniversary, shortly after the service interacted and shared light moments with scores of jubilant congregants outside the church hall.