The Relevancy and Credibility of the Declaration of Zambia as Christian Nation
Jubilee Centre January 22nd, 2010
The 29th December 2009 marked 18 years of Zambia as Christian Nation. Consequently, it was a shock to me when President Rupiah Banda challenged the church to unveil and explain clearly what the declaration of 
Zambia as a Christian nation entails so that the general populace can clearly understand it. I was shocked because it is the current President’s government that declared Zambia Christian Nation when it came into power in 1991. It was his government that also ensured that the declaration was enshrined in Republican constitution a few years later. His party-the MMD has also assured the nation that it will preserve the declaration in the constitution that is currently being drafted. Constitutionally we are a “Christian Republic of Zambia” and therefore it shall be required for every sitting President to uphold and explain clearly the meaning of a Christian nation whether he is at Mfuwe or at the UN in New York.
Thailand is a Buddhist country. It would be impossible to have a President in Thailand who is ignorant of what are Buddhists beliefs. Imagine India with a President who cannot explain Hindu beliefs. Or can you just imagine in your wildest ideas having a President in the Islamic Republic of Iran who does not declare, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” The President must not pass the buck. He must be the first to explain the core values that define us as a Christian nation.
However, the President is right in challenging Christians to impact our communities, nation and our world with the gospel by deeds and word. Therefore, it was sad to watch on television and see the small number of people who attended the church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross to mark the eighteenth anniversary celebration of declaring Zambia as Christian Nation. What I saw does not demonstrate that we believe in what we have declared. No leader from any of the three Christian mother bodies was represented at this gathering. One would have thought that on this day there would be joyous celebrations 
equivalent to those the Jews held as they remembered how God delivered them from slavery. On this day Zambian Christians should be holding festivals depicting how they shall celebrate when they shall enter physical presence of the Kings of kings.
Unless the church is mobilized to appreciate that the declaration is meant to inspire and motivate Christians and to align them with God mission to change their communities, the general populace will question the relevancy and the credibility of the declaration. Until the government leaders and opposition political leaders are able to explain why Zambia is a Christian nation, the general populace will think that the politicians are using the declaration to advance their political fortunes. The relevancy and credibility of the declaration is at stake. Which political party leader is ready to die for it? Which Christian leader is ready to die for it?
Lawrence Temfwe
