Let’s move on — Catholic Vicar

Fr Miti said that since Government had been put in place and President Hichilema inaugurated, the nation needed to move forward.

“Since the Government is in place and the President (Mr Hakainde Hichilema) was actually inaugurated into office for the second term, you should move forward to develop this country,” he said.

Fr Miti said leaders should resort to emulate the wisdom King Solomon of the Bible.

He said citizens should now work together despite their political differences.

Fr Miti cited Chipata Catholic Diocese Bishop George Lungu’s pastoral letter which in part called for national reconciliation.

He appealed to President Hichilema to embrace all citizens, including those who did not vote for him and listen to their concerns.

He said leaders should engage citizens and address challenges.

He said political affiliation should not prevent Zambians from praying for their country and called for prayers for unity, reconciliation and peace ahead of this year’s national prayer day scheduled for October 18.

Fr Miti said Zambia was a sovereign nation and that the United Nations and other bodies should not be expected to come and resolve problems facing the country, observing that Zambians themselves should resolve their misunderstandings.

He said the country needed genuine dialogue and prayer for citizens to move forward as one people.

Fr Miti urged Zambians to put aside political differences and build a peaceful and united nation.

“We are moving ahead. We have a government in place. This is not the time for us to begin bickering or talking unnecessarily,” he said.

Fr Miti said the people of Zambia should acknowledge that an election was held under free and fair conditions.

“Of course, in every election there are people who feel aggrieved. There are losers and winners. But at the end of the day, there is no loser or winner.

“As Zambians, let us now thank God that we had elections which were free and fair. At the same time, we should acknowledge that it is God who chooses leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, St Atanazio Catholic Parish Fr Mark Mwanza who celebrated mass at St Atanazio Catholic Parish said Bishop Lungu was talking about reconciliation and urged Zambians to receive the message in faith.

He said the Church was concerned about every citizen.

Fr Mwanza encouraged Christians to avoid words and actions that divided the nation.

He said citizens should become instruments of peace in their homes, communities, workplaces and country.

Fr Mwanza said Christians should support reconciliation and avoid actions that deepened divisions.

He said the Church had a responsibility to encourage people to seek peace and reconciliation.

Fr Mwanza urged Zambians to work together and allow faith to guide their actions.

Meanwhile, Chata Catholic Diocese Youth Chaplain Fr Wilson Tembo, who was main celebrant at St Atanazio Catholic Parish, said in his homily that Christians should not compare their lives, service or rewards with those of others.

Fr Tembo said God’s generosity could not be measured through human calculations of who had worked longer or suffered more.