PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he is “a political animal” but a Christian.

And Vice-President Inonge Wina says Zambians must walk with their heads high “as we celebrate the presence of our Lord in our midst.”

Addressing Christians from different denominations and a horde of PF cadres who attended the National Day of Prayer, Fasting and Reconciliation in Kitwe at Nkana Stadium today, President Lungu said he had liaised with his aides in Lusaka that he was not going to speak at the prayer day for fear that some people would accuse him of politicizing the event.

“But I am speaking and I think I was convicted by the power of the Almighty to make a statement here. I am a political animal but despite me being one, I am a Christian. If I am controlled by the fact that being a politician, I should be a Christian and if the word of God is assisting me in politics, then I should seek God. I am not ashamed of this fact; that’s why yesterday I told all the politicians to come and pray with us because in prayer, we find peace and in reconciliation, we find joy,”

President Lungu said at the event which was attended by Copperbelt minister Bowman Lusambo, former Democratic Front leader Miles Sampa, NDF leader Mwenya Musenge, PF leaders, bishops inclined to State House and several government officials.

He said Zambians should recognise God’s supremacy in the nation’s affairs.

“Our souls may be weary and the spirit of oneness that holds our nation together may weaken from time to time but God is faithful to those that seek him. This day reminds us that we should recognise God’s supremacy in the affairs of our nation and our special gratitude should be given to him through prayer,” President Lungu said. “Repentance is cardinal as it requires the complete change of the direction of a bitter heart. As a nation, our faith is deep-rooted and our national anthem is a prayer and I am glad that Zambians can sing [it]…and we need a life of prayer…”

And speaking in Lusaka when she officiated at the national day of prayer at the Showgrounds, Vice-President Wina stressed that Zambia continued to publicly acknowledge the supremacy of God over its affairs.

“While most citizens are Christians, our leaders have taken this acknowledgement further by taking practical steps of recognising the supremacy of God at a national level. We should therefore walk with our heads high as we celebrate the presence of our Lord in our midst. This journey started with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation on the 29th December, 1991. The declaration was further cemented by its inclusion in the preamble of the national Constitution and maintaining it in the amended national Constitution of 2016,” Vice-President Wina said.

She also said it was imperative that Zambians found peace and reconciliation within their hearts as individuals, within their families, within their neighbourhood, within their community and in the nation as a whole.

“We need to always seek the face of God and call upon His name in all what we do and go through. The peace that we have continued to enjoy as a country is as a result of God’s love and favour for this nation. All leaders at various levels have a responsibility to promote peace and reconciliation in order to strengthen national unity in diversity,”

said Vice-President Wina.

The national day of prayer, fasting, repentance and reconciliation, whose theme was repentance, promoting peace and reconciliation, consolidating national unity in diversity, was proclaimed by President Lungu in May, 2015.

Earlier, the clergy interceded on various points of societal needs.

Prayer for the youths was given by pastor Haggai Mweene while the rest of the prayers were given as indicated herein.

– Prayer against Gender-Based Violence and early marriages, stability in homes and marriages – pastor Margaret Harawa

– Prayer of thanksgiving for everything God has done so far in our nation – Bishop David Masupa

– Prayer for national repentance – Bishop Sydney Sichilima

– Prayer for continued national unity, prayer for clergy and sustained unity in the Church – Bishop Eddie Chansa

– Prayer for the economy and successful implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan, successful mobilisation of financial resources for the 2018 national budget – Professor Nickson Banda

– Prayer for public service personnel as well as all politicians, prayer for the judiciary, legislature and the executive – Dr Harrison Akombwa

– Prayer for the entire event, prayer for healing and reconciliation in the nation – Bishop Joston Chama

– Prayer to pull down strongholds over the land of Zambia, plead the blood of Jesus over Zambia, prayer for open heavens over Zambia – Apostle Sunday Sinyangwe

– Prayer for media, prayer for education system – Reverend Joyce Mwanza

– Prayer for growth of local investors and positive foreign investments, for mines – Reverend Lazarous Lilema

– Prayer for the First Family and the President, families of opposition leaders and all households – Apostle Elizabeth Albert, among the many intercessory points

Among the prominent people present at the event included first lady Esther Lungu, United Progressive People (UPP) president Saviour Chishimba, deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala and deputy chief justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa.

Other are ministers Jean Kapata (lands minister), David Mabumba (energy), Vincent Mwale (local government), Emerine Kabanshi (community development), Sylvia Chalikosa (minister in the Office of the Vice-President) and Lloyd Kaziya, among several others.