National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Rev. Mrs. Godfridah Nsenduluka – Sumaili Official Opening of The Church, Religious and State Dialogue Platform on Thursday 13th August 2020 at Government Complex in Lusaka

• MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
  SPEECH
  BY
  HONOURABLE MINISTER, REV. MRS. GODFRIDAH SUMAILI, MP
  AT
  THE CHURCH &RELIGIOUS BODIES/ STATE DIALOGUE PLATFORM
  HELD ON
  13TH AUGUST, 2020Government Complex, Lusaka

  • THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES PRESENT,
  • THE SENIOR CLERGY AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER RELIGIOUS, ORGANISATIONS PRESENT,
  • ALL DIRECTORS PRESENT ,
  • ALL SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT,
  • ALL STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTED,
  • THE MEDIA,
  • DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
  • LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  I AM DELIGHTED TO OFFICIATE AT THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEETING AT WHICH GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, THE CHURCH AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES HAVE COME TO A ROUND TABLE TO DISCUSS MATTERS AFFECTING YOU AND THE NATION AT LARGE.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA VALUES YOUR SUPPORT AND COUNSEL IN ALL MATTERS OF GOVERNANCE. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT TODAY WE HAVE GATHERED TO SHARE OUR THOUGHTS AND DISCUSS HOW BEST WE CAN COLLECTIVELY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.
  YOU ARE AWARE THAT AT THE FORMATION OF THIS MINISTRY ON 28TH AUGUST, 2016, HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT CHARGED THE MINISTRY WITH A RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEARHEAD AND COORDINATE THE MAINSTREAMING OF NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES AS WELL AS FACILITATE THE ACTUALISATION OF THE DECLARATION OF ZAMBIA AS A CHRISTIAN NATION.
  HOWEVER, WE NOTE THAT THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH YOUR FULL PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT TO THIS CAUSE.

  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  OUR MINISTRY, YOUR MINISTRY, THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS IN ITS EFFORT TO REALISE ITS PORTFOLIO FUNCTIONS WHICH INCLUDE FACILITATING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE STATE/CHURCH AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES HAS CALLED FOR THIS DIALOGUE PLATFORM UNDER A THEME “STRENGTHENING A COLLABORATIVE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES / STATE APPROACH TOWARDS UNITY”. IN LINE WITH THIS THEME, IT SHOULD BE BORN IN ALL OF US THAT ZAMBIA NEEDS UNITY OF PURPOSE IN BOTH SPIRITUAL AND SECULAR WORLD FOR THE NATION TO RISE ABOVE ITS CHALLENGES.
  THAT IS WHY THIS PLATFORM ACCORDS ALL OF US AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT THE NATION IS FACING. CURRENTLY ZAMBIA LIKE MANY OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD IS FACED WITH CORNONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC WHICH HAS CHALLENGED EVERYONE TO RISE ABOVE POLITICS, CREED OR ETHNIC TRIBE TO COME TOGETHER AND DEMONSTRATE UNITY IN FIGHTING THE VIRUS.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  THIS YEAR THE DIALOGUE PLATFORM HAS COME AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS PREPARING FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WHICH WILL BE HELD ON 18TH OCTOBER, 2020. I WISH TO STATE THAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING WILL THEREFORE FEED INTO THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, FASTING, REPENTANCE AND RECONCILIATION.
  AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE THE WORLD HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE NOVEL CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC AND ZAMBIA HAS NOT BEEN SPARED. IT IS AT A TIME SUCH AS THIS ONE THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES FOR PRAYER AND NOT COMPLETELY RELYING ON SCIENCE. WE ARE LIVING IN TIMES THAT CALL FOR ALL OF US TO PLAY A ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC.
  THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES HAVE PROVED TO HAVE PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE IN ALL COMMUNITIES WHICH GIVES THEM ADVANTAGE OF REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION ON HOW TO AVOID THE CONTRACTION OR SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. IT IS THEREFORE EXPECTED THAT AS YOU CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES YOU CARRY ALONG SENSITIZATION MESSAGES TO THE PEOPLE. MOST OF OUR PEOPLE ARE STILL RELUCTANT IN FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AND INDEED OUR OWN MINISTRY OF HEALTH. WE BELIEVE THAT WITH THE INFLUENCE THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES HAVE ON THEIR FOLLOWERS THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 WILL BE WON. I AM CONVINCED THAT WITH INCREASED COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF YOUR FOLLOWERS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND TAKE THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 MORE SERIOUSLY.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  THE COUNTRY WILL NEXT YEAR BE GOING TO THE POLLS AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO THE CHURCH TO FOSTER PEACE AND UNITY IN THE NATION, I CALL UPON YOU TO PLAY YOUR ROLE IN ENSURING PEACE AND UNITY REIGN BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ELLECTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY, ZAMBIA. THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ANCHOR OF PEACE AND UNITY IN THE NATION AND NOT DIVIDE THE NATION IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OR ASSOCIATION.
  I AM INFORMED THAT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY, WILL ENLIGHTEN YOU OUR STAKEHOLDERS ON YOUR ROLES AND SHARE MORE INFORMATION ON THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM YOU AS KEY STAKEHOLDERS. THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING TO YOU FOR CONTINUED GUIDANCE TO ENSURE PEACE AND TRANQUILLITY IN THE NATION FROM NOW TO 2021 AND BEYOND THE YEAR.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION UNDER THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS HAS JOINED US IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT MY MINISTRY HAS RECEIVED FROM CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS BODIES CONCERNING THE APPLICATION FOR VISAS FOR FOREIGN CLERGY WHO COME FOR CONFERENCES, CRUSADES AND OTHER CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS BODIES FUNCTIONS. THE TEAM IS HERE TO SHARE INFORMATION ON ALL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE PROCESSING OF WORK PERMITS AND VISAS.
  I AM ALSO FURTHER INFORMED THAT THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES WILL ALSO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON REGISTRATION OF CHURCHES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES IN VIEW OF THE REVISED SOCIETIES ACT.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  AS I CONCLUDE, ALLOW ME TO THANK EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE DRAFTING AND LAUNCHING OF THE POLICY ON NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS WHICH THE MINISTRY LAUNCHED ON 30TH JUNE 2020. I AM PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE MINISTRY HAS SINCE COMMENCED DISSEMINATION OF THE POLICY IN PROVINCES STARTING WITH CENTRAL PROVINCE AND IS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT TO THE REMAINING PROVINCES SOON.
  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
  I WISH YOU FRUITFUL DELIBERATIONS DURING THIS DIALOGUE MEETING. IT IS MY HOPE AND PRAYER THAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WILL BE MET. IT IS NOW MY SINGULAR HONOR TO DECLARE THIS DIALOGUE MEETING OFFICIALLY OPENED.
  MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL
  THANK YOU.

  REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
  MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
  LUSAKA

  MEMORANDUM

  FROM: TO:
  Mrs. Chibesa Mulala Musukwa Rev. Doc. Howard Sikwela
  Public Relations Officer Permanent Secretary

  REF: DRAFT SPEECH THE HONOURABLE MINISTER REV. MRS. GODFRIDAH SUMAILI AND TALKING NOTES
  Reference is made to the above subject.
  Kindly find here attached a draft speech for the Honourable Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs to be used at the official opening of the church, religious and state dialogue platform on 13th August 2020 at government complex in Lusaka

  

  President Edgar Chagwa Lungu with Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo and Religious Affairs and National Guidance Minister Reverend Godfridah Nsenduluka- Sumaili2

  Submitted for your approval.

  MNGRA 5/7/2
  12th August, 2020

PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES, REV. DR. HOWARD SIKWELA and ZAMPOST Post Master General Macpherson Chanda AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER (SCT) ZAMPOST PAYMENT SYSTEM OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME HELD AT PAMODZI HOTEL

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

TALKING NOTES

BY
PERMANENT SECRETARY REV. DR. HOWARD J. SIKWELA

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS,

DURING

THE CHURCH/RELIGIOUS-STATE DIALOGUE PLATFORM

13TH AUGUST 2020
GOVERNMENT COMPLEX, LUSAKA.
• THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, REV. GODFRIDAH SUMAILI, MP,
• PERMANENT SECRETARIES FROM LINE MINISTRIES,
• THE SENIOR CLERGY PRESENT,
• DIRECTORS FROM MNGRA,
• SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT,
• ALL STAKEHOLDERS PRESENT,
• THE MEDIA,
• DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

LET ME START BY THANKING GOD ALMIGHTY FOR ACCORDING EACH ONE OF US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET IN THIS MANNER. ALLOW ME TO WELCOME OUR HONOURABLE MINISTER, REV. MRS GODFRIDAH SUMAILI, AND THROUGH YOU, ALL THE INVITED GUESTS TO THE 2020 CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS BODIES/ STATE DIALOGUE PLATFORM BEING HELD UNDER THE THEME: “STRENGTHENING A COLLABORATIVE CHURCH/ RELIGIOUS BODIES/ STATE APPROACH TOWARDS UNITY”.
ALLOW ME TO THANK YOU ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THIS MINISTRY, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE WHENEVER YOU ARE CALLED UPON AND HAVE OFFERED LEADERSHIP WHENEVER IT WAS DESIRED, THIS IS THE COLLABORATION WE MUST EMBRACE AND CONTINUE STRENGTHENING. IT IS SUCH A WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT WILL FOSTER PEACE AND UNITY IN OUR COUNTRY.
TODAY WE GATHER HERE IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, THIS PLATFORM IS THEREFORE A MECHANISM FOR INTERACTION, COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOU OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND THE STATE.
LET ME APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING DESPITE YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE AND THE CURRENT PREVAILING SITUATION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH HAS RAVAGED THE NATIONS. LET ME REMIND YOU TO ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AND I AM SURE OUR OFFICE HAS PUT UP ADEQUATE MEASURES TO MANAGE THE SITUATION AROUND THIS PLACE. PLEASE:
1. WEAR YOUR FACE MASKS (CORRECTLY) AT ALL TIMES
2. KEEP A SOCIAL DISTANCE
3. WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY OR SANITISE OUR HANDS USING HAND SANITISE, BE A BROTHERS /SISTERS KEEPER BY PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING POLICY GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON MATTERS OF RELIGION, WE ARE THEREFORE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION FOR US TO DELIVER ON OUR MANDATE.

AS WE GET IN THE DELIBERATIONS, THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES AMONG OTHERS TO GUIDE US ON SOME ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN OF CONCERN.
ALLOW ME TO NOW CALL THE HONOURABLE MINISTER TO DELIVER HER SPEECH.
HONOURABLE MINISTER MADAM,

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