SEVERAL churches have issued notices to their congregants stating that they will not reopen just yet, despite President Edgar Lungu’s directive yesterday.
Noting the resistance, Minister of Religious Affairs Reverend Godfridah Sumaili has issued a statement via PF sponsored Facebook page, Smart Eagles, saying churches will receive further guidelines on how to protect their members by midday today.
Addressing the nation for the third time since COVID-19 was detected in Zambia, President Lungu announced that Zambia had recorded eight new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, four of which were health workers.
President Lungu, however, decided to reopen churches with a condition that they adhered to prevention measures like social distancing and wearing of masks.
“Based on the lessons and experiences learnt from the last one month where we have generally done well with containing the COVID-19 pandemic, we now know that we need to be cautious in reopening the key areas of our economy subject to public health regulations, guidelines and certification.We are still determining the extent of the disease through escalated testing and screening to assess when we shall reopen our economy fully,” said President Lungu.
“However, I have decided that some activities such as the following may continue being undertaken normally subject to adhering to public health regulations, guidelines and certifications: Places of worship may congregate while observing social distancing, mandatory face masks and sanitizing and hand washing guidelines; sporting activities such as golf and tennis, which do not involve physical contact between players where the sport is played in non-crowded space, can begin to be played but bars in those premises will remain closed; barbershops and salons may continue to operate with strict adherence and observing social distancing and regular sanitizing and hand washing.”
But some churches, led by the Catholic Church, have resisted the reopening order.
Archbishop of Lusaka Alick Banda issued a notice saying public celebrations would not resume until further guidance was issued by the ministry.
Northmead Assembly of God executive board secretary elder Gibstar Makangila also issued a notice, saying the church would continue holding online services.
“We welcome and appreciate the resumption of these services, as announced by the Republican President H.E Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, we are proceeding cautiously with necessary preparations to ensure a healthy and safe environment that takes into account the prescribed public health regulations currently subsisting. We will advise the date of reopening in due course,” stated elder Makangila.
Meanwhile, the Seventh Day Adventist Church also issued a notice that there would be no services today.
Noting the resistance, Rev Sumaili said clarity on how to protect congregants would be issued today.
“Following the pronouncement by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu to allow Churches to worship normally subject to strict observance of the measures put in place by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs will, in greater detail, give clarity by outlining what is expected of the Churches in ensuring protection of Congregants and the prevention of human to human transmission,” Smart Eagles reported.
“This will be done in Consultation with the Ministry of Health, the Church Mother Bodies and other Religions Organizations. In this regard, guidelines will be ready by mid day tomorrow, Saturday, 25th April, 2020. We profusely thank His Excellency the President for His wise leadership and for the respect and confidence he has in the Spiritual Leadership of this country.”
19 responses
Kindly Google Philadelphia flu of 1918.
Good morning.
President Lungu’s directive is very unthinkable, and makes no sence at all. When the numbers of Covid-19 are very low, he restricts movements and enforce social distancing. But when Covid-19 numbers increase, he decides to relax these restrictions.
This simply spells out his fears and desperation for political office. Relaxing rules, especially, on Church gathering doesn’t depict his love for God, but his deceitful desire to rally crowds as a catchment area for elections campaign.
For PF, it’s all about Bill 10 and election. But for those Churches that just want to take advantage of Lungu’s deceit merely for Offerings and tithe collection, and not necessarily to seek God’s face, God Himself will deal with them severely.
That’s my take. Have a blessed Saturday.
Unfortunately, Bowman Lusambo takes Presidential Directives very seriously. I am afraid he’ll be going do to door forcing People to go to church… kikikiki
The President did not direct that Churches reopen. He said they may Continue to operate as they had never been closed, provided they follow the preventive measures. Churches decided to close on their own, while a few continued operation with reduced numbers upto 50 as earlier guided.
All the President said is that if you can afford to implement all the guidelines, then you may assemble.
Besides when the first guidelines were issued, we didn’t know much about the Desease, but now we know a little more and can therefore safeguard ourselves better.
Climbing the tree from the top or thinking after speaking
We thank God for given Zambian a president Edgar Lungu who listen to the voice of God. It’s time to pray against Covid 19 and God is the only solution to fight Covid 19.well done HE, for reopened of churches. God bless you and bless mother Zambia
With good public health practices, churches can freely congregate without risk. People are travelling on big buses to far flung areas like mongu, chipata, samfya without problems. Try to split church sessions into smaller numbers or congregate in open air (outside )
All well mean Zambians must support president Edgar Lungu in fighting against Covid 19 .i want to take this opportunity to thank PF Government for taking measures to fight Covid 19.We can’t do anything without God.Government should invest in agriculture sector. Because agriculture is one aspect which can boost our economy. Eg fish farming, irrigation system.
What Pastor refuses to go to church? Unless you are a wolf in sheeps clothing. Did Jesus refuse to go to Jerusalem because he might be arrested and killed? Did Paul refuse to preach the resurrection because he might have his head chopped off? Did David Livingston refuse to bring the Bible to Southern Africa because he could be killed by wild animals? YOU GENERATION OF VIPERS. You’re nothing but snakes in priestly clothing ashamed on the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. YOU ARE NOT CHURCHES, YOU ARE CULTS. THE ANTI-CHRIST. I REBUKE YOU IN JESUS NAME.
“The preaching of the gospel is foolishness to carnal men”. Do you know what verse that is?
Thank you Mr. President for showing more faith in GOD, than these heretics. Stand tall sir! God Bless you.
Read Hosea 4:6 and Isaiah 26 :10 before you start leading God’s children astray. There is a reason the whole world has taken measures to reduce the spread on this pandemic. My fellow Zambia know what is written in the Bible. 1 John 4:1 says Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. In 1 King 13:18 The old prophet lie cause the man’s death. So before you start running to your Church on the advise of a false prophet read your bible and you will live to testify how God served you during the pandemic. God blessed those who have ear.
The blind leading the blind
Matthew 15:14
The President never forced churches to close and or open
But just signaled to those wanting to gather for warships to simply observe total requirements. Honestly speaking, do we need anything more or less than that.
Jesus came to earth to give freely the holy spirit to those strong believers and not weak and fake ones like what Zambia is witnessing today
Maybe you should read the whole chapter to understand what you’re not saying. Matthew 15. Jesus is saying nothing good can defile the body, therefore nothing that God deems good can be bad under any circumstance. Question. Is Assembling in obedience to Hebrews 10:25 a good thing? YES!
Don’t pull one verse out of context and try to deceive people. Read the whole chapter Jesus is teaching about traditions of man vs. Faith in God (the canaanite womans faith, the people of Galilee, the feeding of the 4000).
Context means the whole account or the full picture. So the sum of the matter is this. Matthew 15:14 is explained in 15:8,9. Blind(men led by sight) leading Blind (men led by sight). Going to church is not being led by sight. That’s obedience.
Men who wrote the very scripture you quote defied the Romans orders to give you scripture to quote and call them blind for not hiding in the mountain from leprosy. “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?” Survive Covid19 only to perish in hell?
Ever heard of leprosy? YES deadly, it was around during the times of Jesus and the Apostles. No cure, no vaccine. Ate you alive slowly. You got it by close contact. Did they assemble (upper room) or just use Facebook and Zoom?
Justify your position using the New Testament. The New Covenant (The Church). There was no church in the Old Testament just the nation of Isreal. “You can’t claim your childs birthday as your own just because you paid for the cake”. Utterly diabolical doctrine.
And where are the healing prophets, we have 40+ people at Levy that need healing. We can end all this tomorrow if you all just came and poured some expensive holy water on these patients. No more quarantine, No more Covid 19. – SAD.
ONLY! JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND LIFE. JHN14:6. Hell is worse than Coronavirus. “Fear Sin more than you fear corona virus, but exercise personal hygiene.”
@ REALDEAL, Kindly google and check what cult means. its better before you say something you research than showing your ignorance here
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?” -Mark 8:36”
How long is eternal life? Do you think thats the life you need to be concerned about and not this life? How many more days do you have to live? You can survive coronavirus, get a vaccine and die in a car accident the next day.
Poverty is the curse of Satan. Poverty comes when people don’t work. If churches can successfully reopen, this country will begin to get back to the new normal. Hunger lowers your immunity and makes you a sitting duck for disease. Let’s get back to work Zambia or people will die.
Please don’t scaremonger people, lets get our country back on its feet. More people die on roads everyday in this country than contract coronavirus. Have we shut down roads and transportation? NO!
Whether its the spanish flu or black plague before that, the dark ages before. Epidemics and Pandemics will always be with us. God’s creation will still prevail.
“I was glad very glad when they said to me, let us go to the HOUSE OF THE LORD”. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Not all that glitters is gold.
First of all I want to thank Mr president of the republican of Zambia Edgar lungu for knowing that God is possible in everything , and for trusting in him, people, this world is full of evil , the world is now covered with darkness allover and if we sit and ford our hands waiting for this convid_19 to respite or finish by it’s own nothing will happen, unless we call upon the name of God ,God is the only one who can save us now the world has committed a lot , God is holy and he does not look on iniquity things ,he is the consuming fire his the God who is able in everything , so let’s just comperate and pray for our country Zambia fear only God not death or convid it’s self.. thanks Mr president for your opinion
His Excellency President Lungu is right to reopen churches for that is where healing and deliverance is.Thank you president Lungu God bless you. It takes real believers not plastic ones to appreciate, be on the knees in the house of God and pray. ref psalms 91, Isaiah 43:2-3 As children of God we have the right, prevaledge,authority and power to call upon the nane Jesus and stop every negative force.2cor10:4 . Children of most high God let us stand up in prayer ask God for intervention.