By NOAH HASSAN ABBAKER –

•Christians pray during a church service. (Inset) Muslim worshippers conduct prayers.

IN today’s world, few countries have been upholding freedom of religion. We have heard stories of religious hatred and unnecessary religious wars which have left thousands people dead or displaced.
Recent inter-religious skirmishes which sparked war in the Central African Republic (CAR) are an eye-opener to peace loving people the world over that religion must be used for the benefit of mankind and not for destruction.
An early warning mechanism must be created in Africa to thwart such wars which break out in the name of religion.
Through civil wars in Sudan, 1955 -2003, between North Sudan and South Sudan described by international media as a religious war, almost three million Christians from South Sudan migrated to North Sudan.
During the above mentioned period, many South Sudan leaders such as Joseph Lag Abel Alier, John Garang, and Salva Kiir assumed political power.  Salva Kiir became vice president of the Republic of Sudan.
This in itself proves that no political or religious discrimination has ever existed in the Sudan where the majority of the population is Muslim.
Likewise, no one from North Sudan was killed in South Sudan during the said prolonged period of civil war because of religious affiliation or creed. It was just a political war and had nothing to do with Christianity and Islam.
The constitution of Sudan states that freedom of worship for all religions is guaranteed.
This means that Christians have the right to worship across the country as well as to enjoy their human and social rights.
Zambia, on the other hand, is the most advanced country in Africa and the world in general as far as freedom of worship and tolerance is concerned.
Though Zambia has been declared as a Christian nation and 98 per cent of the total population is of the Christian faith, we have not heard or witnessed any sort of discrimination against other religions.
The Church in Zambia plays an important role in bringing in different political parties to   round table meetings in order to remove any political impasse.
It has been a very successful story since 1992 and the Church should be encouraged to assume the role of a mediator to ease political tensions whenever need arises.
It is observed that both Muslims and Christians in Zambia have the needy people in their hearts. For example, churches help the needy in the form of education for the vulnerable children. The Church also adopts orphans as well as extends other forms of social assistance.
The Lusaka Muslim Community Association has been helping needy people across  Zambia. The association has so far dug hundreds of boreholes and distributed relief food, blankets and mosquito nets to thousands of people.
Although there are many countries in Africa which advocate freedom of worship, Zambia and Sudan must be recognized by the African Union Commission and the United Nations (UN) as role models for religious tolerance as the two nations are zero religious hatred countries.
It is high time that religious tolerance be included in the school syllabus so that upcoming leaders who are the young people, can grow up being mindful and understanding of religious co-existence.
This could be the only way to defeat terrorism and fanaticism in the name of religion.
Inter-religious dialogue is also important as it removes a lot of suspicion among various religions and pave the way for more understanding and possible coordination in the field of political reconciliation, uplifting living standards and extending humanitarian assistance to the needy as well to help fight vices such as use of illegal drugs and diseases like HIV/AIDS.
The role of religion in any society should be seen as an advocator of political, economic and social co-existence.
It should be understood that God has revealed various forms of religion to guide all human beings, irrespective of their beliefs, to enjoy equal rights of mutual respect.