•A beaming President Edgar Lungu showing his portrait drawn by Saint Bonaventure University during the fundraising breakfast at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday as Higher Education Minister Nkandu Luo looks on. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS

By SARAH MWANZA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has called for religious and political leaders to make a clear distinction between their calling.
Mr Lungu said while the Church and the State served different purposes in society, they have one thing  in common of serving the people.
He said this in Lusaka yesterday when he officiated at the fundraising prayer breakfast for Saint Bonaventure University College at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
Mr Lungu said the church and the state, though identified differently are there for service of the people.
He explained that the church and the state in Zambia shared a wide range of concerns and effectively collaborated for the common good.
“It is in this regard, therefore, that I am happy to reaffirm publicly that the Patriotic Front (PF) government values the contribution the church is making to improve the well-being of the Zambian people, especially in the fields of education, healthcare and human development.” he said.
He said the church underscored independence and autonomy from the state with its own internal autonomy to define its own statutes of existence on the basis of its divine foundation.
“Therefore, the principal object in the cooperation between the church and the state is for no other reason, but for the common good of man,” he said.
Mr Lungu also applauded the Catholic Church in Zambia for various achievements it has made, among them, the establishment of an extensive educational system countrywide, provision of medical care through church-sponsored hospitals and clinics, special services to the handicapped and orphans and its prophetic ministry.
The president further challenged women to take up the opportunity to study philosophy as the country needed women who could articulate issues philosophically.
Speaking at the same event, St. Bonaventure University College Director Donasian Mboya said the institution needed about K8 million for expansion works in order to meet the demand of a growing population.
“We are expanding the university college beyond offering philosophy courses, we want to introduce new faculties such as development studies, education, business and entrepreneurship courses at diploma and degree levels,” he said.
And Mr Lungu has pledged to contribute $100 000 for the next six months towards the fundraising of the construction of a multipurpose hall and extra classroom blocks at an estimated cost of K8 million at St. Bonaventure University College in Lusaka.