The government of Zambia has released 25 million Kwacha to empower churches, religious and faith based organisations in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, Godfridah Sumaili disclosed this during launch of the Church, Religious and Faith Based Organisations empowerment scheme in Lusaka.
This comes after a plea to the country’s president Edgar Lungu from Ndola based faith organisations last year to support them with funds like various other sectors in the country.
According to Sumaili, government has set aside 50 Million Kwacha to support already existing charity programmes which have severely been affected in religious settings.
Sumaili added that the decision to establish the relief package was based on the fact that church and other faith based organisations play an essential role in supplementing the government’s efforts in social and economic activities.
A report by Lusaka times indicated that the scheme will be strictly monitored to ensure more churches, religious and faith based organisations also benefit from this relief package.
The Minister also implored all men of God to desist from partisan politics, urging them to instead preach peace and unity especially as the country heads to the polls.
