•PRESIDENT Lungu (left) dances during the Eucharistic service of the Anglican Consultative Council 2016 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

By JAMES KUNDA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has assured the Church that he will uphold the country’s peace ahead of the general elections.
The Head of State said he, along with every other Zambian, had the responsibility to uphold the country’s exceptional record as an oasis of peace by living in harmony with other people.
“Zambia continues to be a rare oasis of peace and human fellowship on the African continent and the world at large. We should never and I will never take this for granted.
“We have the responsibility to uphold this exceptional record. I am saying this because we are going for elections and it is very tempting (to break the record of peace),” Mr Lungu said.
President Lungu was speaking at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday during the opening Eucharistic service of the 16th session of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-16).
The 10-day ACC-16, under the theme ‘International discipleship in a world of differences’, is being hosted by the Anglican Church’s Central Province comprising four countries namely, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana.
The President was joined at the colourful event, which brought together more than 120 Anglican leaders representing 85 million Anglicans worldwide, by first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, State House staff and senior Government officials.
Among the Anglican leaders was the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
Mr Lungu said he utilised every available opportunity to denounce violence and promote the motto of ‘One Zambia One Nation’.
He said political party leaders had a lot to learn from the Anglican Church’s efforts of bringing different figures of the grouping under one roof during the ACC-16 deliberations.
“The coming together of representatives of the 85 million Anglicans worldwide here in Lusaka is a symbol of unity and love in a world of conflict, divisions and differences.
“If there is one great lesson religion can lend to politics, it is the uniting effect of tolerance as a virtue. We can differ in many ways than one, but tolerance will always afford us a chance to progress as a united force,” the President said.
Mr Lungu reiterated the call for the Church to take up a leading role in preserving peace by engaging politicians on the need to ensure tranquility in the forthcoming elections.
He said the Government continued to appreciate the role of the Church in national affairs and the Anglican community was an all-weather development partner in the country’s growth.
President Lungu said the Anglican Church had been a valuable ally to all successive Zambian governments with valuable input in the provision of social services such as education and health.
“Let me urge the Church to continue partnering with my Government in ensuring that we deliver development and subsequently uplift the living standards of our citizens, for this is what true Christianity entails.
“Please be assured that my Government acknowledges and respects the role that the Church plays in the governance system of this country,” the Head of State said.
In his sermon, Archbishop Welby reiterated the Church’s call for the Zambian community to remain united as the country heads for the elections.
After the Church service, the Head of State, in the presence of Dr Welby and Dr Kaunda, inspected a joint guard of honour mounted by the Anglican Boys’ and Girls’ brigades.
Mr Lungu encouraged the young people to use their talent in continually upholding the virtues of Christianity.
The President also took time to mingle with the congregants.