• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu acknowledges the multitudes that gathered for the prayers at the Lusaka Show grounds.

By REBECCA MUSHOTA  and DELPHINE ZULU –
PRESIDENT  Edgar Lungu yesterday led Zambians in their multitudes as the country commemorated the National Day of Repetance, Prayer and Fasting, dedicated to seeking God’s divine intervention in the country’s economic challenges.
“I wish to thank the Almighty God for allowing us to assemble and observe the day of repentance, reconciliation, prayer and fasting. I personally believe that since we humbled ourselves as a people and have sincerely cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; he has heard our cry, has forgiven out sins and will surely heal our land,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu appealed to Zambians to identify themselves as Zambians first in order to change the circumstances of the nation.
He said at the Show Grounds in Lusaka, the venue for the event, that Zambians should put the country first before other needs.
“My humble appeal to all Zambians is that we should identify ourselves as Zambians first and foremost before we begin to segregate ourselves into political parties, regions color or religion,” Mr Lungu said.
He said in order for the nation to under-go transformation, there was need for people to renew their mindsets.
Transformation occurred by the renewing of the mind, therefore there was need to change the way  citizens thought about themselves, the country’s circumstances, the surroundings, communities and the nation.
It was important, President Lungu said, to have positive thoughts about the country.
Zambia was, after all, a great nation, enjoying peace and stability, rich in natural resources, with peace loving and friendly citizens.
Mr Lungu said, although the mandate to govern the country was given to the Patriotic Front (PF), this should not prevent other citizens from offering solutions to the challenges the country was facing.
“Please come forward.  Ours is an open door policy at all levels of Government. Let us work on building the nation together. We should never seek political success on the back of national failure,” he said.
He added that love was the most powerful ingredient of all because it brought life.
God was love and by loving each other, Zambians would be embracing the presence of God.
President Lungu said he was confident God had heard the cry of Zambians.
He said the people’s desire to go before God at a time when the country was experiencing socio economic challenges, which, were causing anxiety and distress among the people, was a sign of reverence to God and acknowledgement of his sovereignty.
President Lungu said in 1 John 1 verse 9, the Bible said if people confessed their sins, God was
faithful and just to forgive their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness.
President Lungu said Zambians were a people of faith and failure was therefore not their portion because everything was possible with God.