THE CHURCH, TRADITIONAL LEADERS IMPLORED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE
….on the misunderstanding between the government and the Lungu family
Lusaka… Friday June 13, 2025 – Former PF Deputy National Youth Chairperson Benja Siwila has called on the Church, Traditional leaders and other key stakeholders to intervene in the misunderstanding between the government and the family of the late President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Mr Siwila says what is happening has the capacity to destroy unity in the country hence the need for these leaders to intervene and guide accordingly.
Mr Siwila says the country has respected Church leaders and traditional leaders who should quickly move in and reconcile the two parties in order to reach a consensus on the repatriation of the remains of the late former Head of State from South Africa.
“Allow me to make my comment on what I’m observing so far with regards to what is currently going on in our nation, Zambia. First things first, we have a situation of the death of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and a lot of comments, thoughts that are going on in terms of expressing how things should be done. People are unsure. People have created now a narrative in terms of the happenings. In times like this politicians should be careful of the words they are uttering,” he said.
“If politicians make certain statements who are affiliated to certain political parties, either the ruling party or indeed the opposition, makes a comment in line with the happenings, it might either build or just worsen the situation. My advice is that moments like this require a neutral organization or individuals. I believe in this nation we have our spiritual fathers, fathers of the nation, that provide spiritual solutions to situations that are tense as this one, where such voices can take advantage of this atmosphere and address the nation, the grieving nation.”
He believes that both parties can listen from the Church and traditional leaders.
“And so people will be able to listen to such neutral voices where they give spiritual guidance because it’s not everything that should be addressed in a more physical way. And also we have our traditional leaders who are equally fathers to politicians, to everyone in this nation. And they also have this opportunity to advise the nation accordingly. Their whole purpose is to create an atmosphere that can be peaceful, an atmosphere that can give direction in terms of how certain situations should be handled,” he added.
“Because situations like this if left unchecked, depending on one’s feelings, people may end up even hating each other more in terms of what they have in their hearts. And so we are at a point where if not well handled, it can either be used to build, or unite. We need to focus in terms of how we need to move forward.”