Zambia: President stresses unity in Christmas message

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - In his annual Christmas message on Saturday, President Edgar Lungu urged Zambians to show tolerance and patience towards each other as well as embrace unity and peace, suggesting this is their heritage from God.

Lungu, president of majority-Christian Zambia since January 2015, told citizens of the landlocked southern African country not to allow their differences to mar their unity.

“The peace and unity you are enjoying was bought at a very high price. You should not allow politics or religion or any other belief to divide you.”

“Zambians, irrespective of their affiliation, are one and should live as such,” he added.

Lungu also addressed the many social and economic challenges that Zambia has faced during 2016, including job losses in the all-important mining sector, drought and resulting food insecurity, and debt servicing and restructuring.

"The problems Zambia is facing are not exclusive. But my government is doing everything possible, including re-examining critically our performance. This will help us come up with a good master plan to tackle the problems and make life easy for the people in the coming year."

He further urged those with plenty this festival season to share with people unable to feed themselves and their children.

“The season we are in is for sharing. My plea to you who have plenty is to share with those who don’t.”

According to the 2010 census, Zambia is over 95 percent Christian, with a 0.5 percent Muslim population, and 3.8 percent following other religions or none at all.