By MIRIAM ZIMBA –
WHAT began as a Presidential decree on September 18, 2015 during the official opening of the Fifth Session of the 11th National Assembly by President Edgar Lungu came to fruition on October 18, 2015-the day of national prayer.

•Zambians turned out in droves for the Day of National Prayer and Fasting that President Edgar Lungu has since declared a national holiday.

In his address to Parliament, President Lungu proclaimed October 18,2015 as a day of repentance, prayer and fasting.
This day was commemorated under the theme ‘Laying the foundation for a smart Zambia, finding forgiveness, repentance, compassion and love in God’.
The Head of State said, “This declaration follows the overwhelming requests that ordinary citizens and the clergy from various denominations have made for this special day to be set apart for repentance, prayer and fasting countrywide”.
He said the requests were justified as the country’s founding fathers and mothers found it fit to commit the nation’s destiny to God’s providence as evidenced by their placing of the National Flag at the high altar of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on October 25, 1964.
The President said the decision was inevitable in view of the many challenges that the country was faced with, among them: socio-economic; disrespect for elders and a near absence of civility in discourse; high unemployment levels among the youth and high poverty levels, Kwacha depreciation, including load shedding due to the power deficit.
He appealed to all Zambians to assemble at their respective places of worship and spend time in prayer and fasting to seek the face of God to avert the dangers that confront the nation.
True to this proclamation by the President, Zambians from all walks of life gathered at various locations to pray and fast for reconciliation, peace and unity in the country.
In Lusaka, the National Day of prays was convened at the Lusaka Showgrounds, where the Head of State led thousands of citizens in observing this day.
The event was attended by Christians from various denominations and was characterised by preaching, reading of the Bible, songs of praise and worship and – above all – prayer.
Prior to this declaration, various church leaders and ordinary citizens had made calls to pray for the social economic challenges the country is faced with and President Lungu becomes the first President to heed to these calls.
In fact, the President even went a step further – he declared this date as a national holiday, and announced that it would be commemorated annually.
President Lungu’s decree was welcomed by various church leaders, among them the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), who described it as an act of humility on the part of the President.
EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza in a letter to all member churches says the President has humbled himself by calling upon God’s intervention in the affairs of the country.
However, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) director Leonard Chiti is of the opinion that the true test of reconciliation and national unity will only be seen in how the county’s political leaders will relate with one another long after the commemoration of this day.
Father Chiti, who quoted the Bible from Mark 11:25 and Mathew 6:15-15 said reconciliation and forgiveness are Biblical.
He explained that true reconciliation entails people in the nation, including political leaders, coming before God to acknowledge their sins and wrongs against one another.
“This is exactly what the nation did on Sunday during the national day of repentance, fasting and prayer,” he said.
“It is a good thing that as Christians we pray to God to grant us wisdom on how to address our national challenges,” he said.
Father Chiti however said this day should not just be a one-off event, but rather one that should reflect in the everyday lives of citizens.
He said reconciliation requires Christians to set aside their old ways and take on the teachings of Christ.
He said it was regrettable that the manner in which political leaders relate with one another for example, does not conform to Christian teachings of humility, forgiveness and reconciliation.
“We want to see members of different political parties shake hands and differ with each other civilly, while accommodating each others’ different of views,” he said.
Father Chiti said Christians have the responsibility to pave the way to receive God’s interventions in addressing the country’s national challenges and that,  having a day dedicated to prayer for the nation is one of the ways of doing so.
“Prayers are just the first step. The real test of true unity, forgiveness and reconciliation will be seen in how we relate to one another, how our leaders relate with one another beyond the national prayers,” he said.
He appealed to political leaders in the country to ensure that they always put the interest of the country first before their own.
United Church of Zambia (UCZ) General Secretary Peggy Kabonde commended all well-meaning Zambians for the spirit of unity exhibited during the day of national prayers.
She said the spirit of prayers and fasting is what defines the lifestyle of Christians.
Reverend Kabonde said for the sustainability and continuity of reconciliation and national unity beyond the day of national prayers.
She also called on both political leaders and ordinary citizens to
seek forgiveness from one another for the wrongs they could have
committed.
Save Rural Africa Foundation General Secretary Wisdom Gondwe said the day of national prayer is exactly what the country needed, amidst the socio-economic challenges it is faced with.
“The greatest need for Zambia is God and Jesus Christ. When we find God as a nation, we have found all the answers we seek,” he said.
Pastor Gondwe said the church is now appealing to Government to consider designating December 29, as a national Covenant Day of thanksgiving in honour of the 1991 declaration of Zambia as a
Christian Nation.
Reverend Martha Siame from Eastern Province called on political leaders to seek intervention from church mother bodies to attain reconciliation.
“They way in which politicians relate with one another does not really bring out reconciliation, and therefore, it is important to involve the church mother bodies to spearhead the process of national prayers and fasting in order to facilitate reconciliation amongst political leaders who hold divergent opinions,” she said.
Yahweh Global Ministries Bishop Nathaniel Banda appealed to citizens to remember to pray for leaders in authority because this is what the
Bible requires of all Christians.
“Scripture also tells us that we should pray for those in authority, that they should allow the word of God to direct them, therefore, they should not lean on their own understanding but on God,” he said.
And the Seventh Day Adventist Church – Lusaka Conference, echoes Bishop Banda’s calls on the nation to pray for national leaders.
Pastor Collins Hamusokwe explained that Christians should pray for their national leaders because they are chosen to lead by God.
He said Christians should always seek the face of God in addressing national challenges.
He urged citizens to encourage and pray for the country’s leaders to heed to God’s direction for leadership.
Clearly, the National Day for repentance, prayer and fasting is just the beginning. Now, it remains to be seen how national leaders and citizens will ensure that peace, unity and reconciliation prevails beyond this day.