Minister of Local of Government Charles Banda has appealed to citizens to concentrate on prayer and fasting rather than patronizing bars this Friday.

In a statement, Wednesday, Banda also appealed to all liquor traders to start operating their businesses at 18:00 hours instead of the prescribed 10:00 hours.

“Following the President of the Republic of Zambia his Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu declaration of 18th October of every year as a public holiday and national day of pray and fasting, which will be commemorated this week on Friday under the theme ‘Receive times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord through reconciliation with one another and the Environment for a prosperous Zambia’, the government would like to appeal to all liquor traders, across the country, to open their bars at 18:00 hours instead of the 10;00 hours as prescribed in the liquor licensing Act 20 of 2021; to enable the general public commemorate this important day of prayer and fasting in a solemn and sober manner as intended especially that Zambia is a christian nation,” stated Banda.

“Similarly the government wishes to appeal to the general public to celebrate this day by concentrating on prayers and fasting as opposed to patronizing the bars during the prayer and fasting time which starts in the morning and ends at 18:00 hours.”