View source for President Lungu’s speech on the day of prayer and fasting

[[File:Edgar Lungu Inauguration Speech.jpg|thumb|Right|]]
CLOSING STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE DAY OF PRAYER, FASTING AND RECONCILIATIONM, 18 OCTOBER 2015, SHOWGROUNDS, LUSAKA
ON THIS 18TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015, I EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, WISH TO THANK THE ALMIGHTY GOD FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE AND OBSERVE A NATIONAL DAY OF REPENTANCE, RECONCILIATION,PRAYER AND FASTING.I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT SINCE WE HUMBLED OURSELVES AS A PEOPLE ANDHAVE SINCERELY CRIED OUT TO THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB; HEHAS HEARD OUR CRY, HAS FORGIVEN OUT SINS AND WILL SURELY HEAL OUR LAND.OUR DESIRE TO COME BEFORE GOD AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS WHEN THE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES WHICH ARE CAUSING ANXIETY AND DISTRESS AMONGST THE PEOPLE, IS A SIGN OF OUR REVERENCE TO GOD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOF HIS SOVEREIGNTY.IN 1 JOHN 1 VERSE: 9, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT, “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”MY HUMBLE APPEAL TO ALL ZAMBIANS IS THAT WE SHOULD IDENTIFY OURSELVES AS ZAMBIANS FIRST AND FOREMOST BEFORE WE BEGIN TO SEGREGATE OURSELVES INTO POLITICALPARTIES, REGIONS COLOR OR RELIGION.IN ORDER FOR US TO TRANSFORM OUR NATION, THERE IS NEED FOR US TO BE TRANSFORMED. TRANSFORMATION OCCURS BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND, THEREFORE THERE IS NEED FOR US TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT OURSELVES, OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, OUR SURROUNDINGS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NATION ASA WHOLE.IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE POSITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR COUNTRY.ZAMBIA IS A GREAT NATION, ENJOYING PEACE AND STABILITY, RICH IN NATURALRESOURCES, WITH PEACE LOVING AND FRIENDLY CITIZENS.ALTHOUGH THE MANDATE TO GOVERN THIS GREAT NATION WAS GIVEN TO THE PATRIOTIC FRONT, THIS SHOULD NOT PREVENT OTHER CITIZENS FROM OFFERING SOLUTIONS TO THE MANY CHALLENGES THE COUNTRY IS FACING.WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY OF YOU OUT THERE WHO MAYHAVE BRILLIANT IDEAS THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NATION. PLEASECOME FORWARD. OURS IS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. ZAMBIA IS OUR COMMON INHERITANCE. LET US WORK AT NATION-BUILDINGTOGETHER. WE SHOULD NEVER SEEK POLITICAL SUCCESS ON THE BACK OF NATIONAL FAILURE.I WANT TO SAY THAT LOVE IS REALLY THE GREATEST AND MOST POWERFUL INGREDIENT OF ALL. LOVE BRINGS LIFE AROUND US. GOD IS LOVE, AND SO, IF WELOVE ONE ANOTHER, WE ARE EMBRACING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE NATION.SO, FELLOW CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT NATION, I APPEAL TO ALL OF YOU TO DO YOUR BEST AND LEAVE THE REST TO GOD. AFTER ALL, WE ARE A GOD’S NATION, AND WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. WHEN WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH GOD, FAILURE IS NOT OUR PORTION.WE ARE A NATION OF FAITH;WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION!LET ME THEREFORE TAKE THIS SOLEMN OPPORTUNITY TO DECLARE THAT THIS DAY, OCTOBER 18, SHALL FORTHWITH BERESERVED AS A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TO BE GAZETTED AS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY!I NOW DECLARE THAT ZAMBIA IS SET FREE FROM DARK FORCES; I DECLARE THAT ZAMBIA IS A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS NATION!MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU WELL;MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU, AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU ALL;MAY THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARD YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE;GOD BLESS YOU ALL;GOD BLESS THIS GREAT REPUBLIC!AMEN!

==See Also==
==References==
[[Category:Presidency of  Edgar Lungu| ]]
[[Category: Edgar Lungu]]
[[Category:History of Zambia (1991–present)]]
[[Category:Presidential Speechs]]
[[Category:Speeches by Edgar Lungu]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Zambia]]