LUSAKA Mayor Miles Sampa says the council is facing a lot of challenges and needs the intervention of God. Mr Sampa has since dedicated his office and the local authority to God because of his firm belief in Him.

Mr Sampa said a man of God, prophet Isaiah Sovi prophesied that he [Mr Sampa] would one day be Mayor of Lusaka. “This is symbolic to me because prophet Sovi used to pray for me and he prophesied that one day I will be here. I invited him to come and pray for the office and the official car,” he said.

Mr Sampa said this when South Africa-based Zambian prophet Sovi paid a courtesy call on him at his office yesterday. This is according to a statement issued yesterday by the council public relations unit.

“The council is facing a lot of challenges and, therefore, there is need to put God first in all we do,” Mr Sampa said. The mayor said his office welcomes all clergy and other religions because the Republican Constitution recognises such. Mr Sampa said he will meet the Muslim community as well to discuss with them matters to do with the city because they are stakeholders.
Mr Sampa is a staunch Catholic.

He appointed Father Lastone Lupupa during his installation last Friday as mayor’s chaplain, but beyond that, he says he has respect for any bishop, pastor, prophet as long as they believe in God and can preach the word of God. “Even those who are not Christians, I know we are a Christian nation, but the constitution also tolerates other religions – Muslim, Hinduism; this mayor will have time for them.

“I would like to thank him [prophet Sovi] for coming all the way from South Africa to bless the mayor’s office and the official car. … I welcome all those pastors, churches, bishops who would want to pray for the mayor’s office and car that this mayor is available to all religions and I encourage everyone to look up to God in whatever they do because that is what I will do,” Mr Sampa said.

Prophet Sovi said he met Mr Sampa some months ago through prayers because he [mayor] is a man that seeks the face of God.
“I met him [Mr Sampa] through prayers. That was the time when God revealed that he would be Mayor.’’