• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (left) and Dr Kenneth Kaunda (third from left) visit the burial site of the first Republican president’s mother, Helen Nyamunyirenda, in Lubwa, Chinsali, yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE in Chinsali –
THE United Church of Zambia (UCZ) has said that even though a year of elections is always a difficult one, President Edgar Lungu must be assured that God is in control of everything.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has declared the UCZ Church at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali as a national monument.
Lubwa Mission UCZ Church minister-in-charge, Joseph Kabaso said that an election year was a difficult one, but that President Lungu should be assured that God was in control.
Reverend Kabaso has since called on Mr Lungu to forgive and embrace everyone, including those who criticised his leadership, because God has given him power to rule the country.
Rev Kabaso said at a church service at Lubwa Mission yesterday, which was attended by Mr Lungu and first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, that the Head of State should be forgiving and embrace those in the opposition.
“The year of elections is a difficult time for any nation. Although you have what it takes to develop the nation, others will call you names and accuse you but God has given you the power to rule Zambia.
In principle, He is in control of everything you are doing,” Rev Kabaso said.
He assured Mr Lungu that the Church would continue praying for his leadership to enable him foster development in the nation.
Rev Kabaso said that Mr Lungu’s ‎humility and good leadership were some of the qualities that showed that he had love for everyone.
‎Mr Lungu urged the Church to continue praying for politicians.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has declared the UCZ Church at Lubwa Mission as a national monument.
The UCZ Lumbwa Mission building was built near the graves of Dr Kaunda’s pa‎rents, David and Helen and other important people such as Rev Paul Mushindo who translated the Bible from English into Bemba.
President Lungu said Lubwa Mission had a special place in Zambia’s history, because the country’s first president, Dr Kaunda, hailed from there.
He said the late Kaundas and many other people lying at Lubwa Mission were among key people who liberated Zambia.
The country has remained peaceful, because of Dr Kaunda’s message of love, peace and unity through the motto ‘One Zambia One Nation’.
“Looking at this place (church), I can see that the sun is coming in because it has stood the test of time. I am declaring this place a national monument,” Mr Lungu said.
Lubwa Mission is already a national heritage, but the UCZ Church has not been part of it.
Mr Lungu said Zambians should appreciate the country’s heritage and should visit ‎the monument to learn about Christianity as well as Dr Kaunda’s life history and how the place was founded.
President Lungu said a gazette notice to formalise the declaration of the place as a national monument would be issued soon.
Dr Kaunda thanked Mr Lungu for declaring Lubwa Mission as a monument and taking unprecedented development to all corners of the country.
He told the people of Lubwa Mission that Mr Lungu had done a lot for the country from the time he took over from President Michael Sata and had continued with the projects the late president had started.
President Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Deputy Defence Minister Christopher Mulenga and Muchinga Province Minister Mwimba Malama were among those who attended the service.
Mr Lungu and Dr Kaunda also visited Dr Kaunda’s birthplace and grave sites for his parents and other important people.
Rev Kabaso said the church was raising funds to build a museum at Dr Kaunda’s birthplace.