Bowman Lusambo has directed that all travellers coming from Lusaka must be screened before they enter Copperbelt Province in order to prevent Cholera from being exported to the mining towns.

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with the clergymen at Protea Hotel in Ndola yesterday, the Copperbelt Province Minister also said the Church should continue to pray for President Edgar Lungu so that he could have good health.

“The Church should work with the local authority to ensure that Copperbelt remains 100 per cent cholera free. To this effect, I want to encourage our colleagues in the ministry of health and the local authority to deploy inspectors in strategic locations such as bus stops and airports. So that the people transiting are checked for any symptoms of cholera. As you may be aware, the last suspected case of cholera we experienced as a province came from a traveler from Lusaka. It is therefore, important that we beef up screening measures among the travelling public especially those coming from Lusaka,” Lusambo said.

He said the Church should also pray for President Lungu.

“I implore the church to continue praying for President Edgar Lungu in 2018 and beyond. This is the man who has demonstrated his love for God. As the church, you are commanded by God to pray for your leaders. The clergy, you must support and work with the government of the day,” Lusambo said.

“The Churche should not play politics and confuse the people because elections are over and it is time for work. We have a task of building Zambia and president Lungu is doing a good job and needs support. We should allow President Lungu complete his vision of transforming Zambia and he needs our support. As government we are committed to ensuring that the benefits of a strong economy trickle down to our people. We will therefore continue to invest heavily in infrastructure development especially here on the Copperbelt.”

He said government needed to partner with the Church in delivering development.

“The government needs the church and the church also needs government. We closed the year with God and we want to start with God. This is the same people we take care of. The government governs the same people that the Church looks at,” Lusambo said.

And United Church of Zambia Copperbelt Presbytery Bishop Chipasha Musaba said it was the responsibility of the church to ensure that tension in the country was reduced.

“There is tension, we have failed to move together. It is time for the church to preach unity and move beyond our political affiliation,” said Bishop Musaba.