SOLIDARITY PRAYERS HELD FOR LUSAKA CITY MARKET VICTIMS

BY STEVEN ZANDE
FIRST Lady Esther Lungu and Religions Affairs Minister Godfiridah Sumali were yesterday among scores of people from a cross-section of the Christian community who attended worship and prayer service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
The event which was organized by the National House of Prayer (NHoP) was held in solidarity for the hundreds of marketers who lost property in an inferno that swept through part of the Lusaka City Market on Tuesday last week, destroying property worth millions of Kwacha.
The First Lady pledged K50,000 to help victims of the City Market inferno.
Ms Lungu said the perpetrators of the fire at the City Market would feel powerful and elusive in the eyes of human beings, but they should know that God would in time bring them to face justice, according to their deeds ."It is disheartening that in Zambia we have people who are created by God, rejoicing in inflicting pain on the people. You may outwit humans and feel you are more powerful bit know that God will bring you to judgement," the First Lady said.
Ms Lungu said Zambians should now focus on praying for God for strength loss because judgement would be passed by God.
She said disheartening as the experience was, God would help victims to recover from the untimely loss of their source of livelihood.
House of Prayer board vice-chairperson Pukuta Mwanza said the events of last week were a dark shadow on the nation.
Rev Mwanza said the gutting of City Market, which had shocked many Zambians was a dent on the nation, stating that the church would pray for speedy recovery of the marketers who had suffered loss.
United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima, in a homily, said people should wait patiently for their heart's desires because every genuine blessing had its own time but impatience could split and destroy the nation.  
"Lack of patience can destroy our society and tear partournation. Even when you have ambitions to become a pastor or president of the country, is important to wait for your time Bishop Sichilima said.  
He said some people had entangled themselves in evil deeds because they wanted to acquire riches or assume leadership positions now.  
Bishop Sichilima called on Zambians to regard their fellow citizens with love and to avoid being judgmental on the basis of color or tribal origins because God's blessings united people rather than disintegrate communities
He said God would bless makers and appealed peace to aspiring political leaders to commit to building peace in the country. Others in attendance were former Vice pre s i d e n t En och Kavin dele Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mtesa and leaders of numerous churches