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SPEECH BY THE BY THE NGOCC CHAIRPERSON MS. SARA LONGWE’S AT THE PRAYER SERVICE FOR PEACE AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLLY CROSS, 15TH MAY 2017

LEADERS OF OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
THE CLERGY
NGOCC MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
INVITED GUESTS,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

THE NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS’ COORDINATING COUNCIL (NGOCC) IS DELIGHTED TO BE PART OF THIS PRAYER SERVICE FOR PEACE IN OUR BELOVED NATION OF ZAMBIA. I WISH TO STATE THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAD HAPPENINGS IN OUR COUNTRY. IT IS THEREFORE AN HONOR TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS SEEKING GOD’S GUIDANCE REGARDING THE DETERIORATING AFFAIRS OF THIS COUNTRY

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THIS PRAYER SERVICE IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US AS THE COORDINATING BODY AND FOCAL POINT ORGANIZATION OF THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT IN ZAMBIA, REALIZING THAT THE ABSENCE OF PEACE HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE UNFOLDING EVENTS IN OUR COUNTRY WHICH EMANATE FROM A DIVISIVE AUGUST 2016 ELECTIONS HAS BROUGHT OUR COUNTRY TO A PLACE WHERE THE ONCE PEACEFUL NATION IS NOW A SPOT LIGHT IN THE CONTINENT AS AN EMERGING POLITICAL CONCERN. THE POLITICAL TENSION IN THE COUNTRY IS THREATENING THE PEACE AND DEMOCRACY THAT WE AS A NATION HAS BUILT SINCE THE 1991 TRANSITION TO MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY. THE EROSION OF THE RULE OF LAW AND LACK OF SEPARATION OF POWERS IS PORTRAYING DICTATORIAL TENDENCIES WHICH IF UNCHECKED THREATENS THE EXITING CIVIL SPACE IN THIS COUNTRY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
WE HAVE WITNESSED AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THE LAW ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA THE BODY THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT THE RULE OF LAW AND CONSTITUTIONALISM IN ZAMBIA. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS HAS BEEN DEBILITATED WITH A CLUMP DOWN ON THE MEDIA FOR ITS OPEN MINDEDNESS. OUR POLICE SERVICE IS SLOWLY TURNING INTO A POLICE FORCE WITH ARBITRAL ARRESTS AND MISS APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT, WHICH IS STIFLING FREEDM OF ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. THE PRESENCE OF ARMED POLICE ON OUR STREETS CREATES TENSION AND FEAR AMONG THE CITIZENRY. THE ARREST OF THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS AND LACK OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE RULING PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) AND THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND) HAS FURTHER DIVIDED THE NATION.
ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, WE ARE WITNESSING AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING, ESPECIALLY WITH AN INCREASE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFFS UP TO 75 % DESPITE SUBMISSIONS FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS. THIS INCREMENT WILL DEFINATELY FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THE POOR WHOSE MAJORITY ARE WOMEN AT ABOUT 62.5% BEING FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
IT IS NO DOUBT THAT IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED, THE GOVERNANCE SYSTEM OF THIS COUNTY WILL DETERIORATE, THE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE THE LIVES OF MANY ZAMBIANS, WILL BE DEVASTATED. AT THE RECEIVING END OF THIS SITUATION ARE THE INNOCENT ZAMBIANS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.

IT IS TIME THAT WE AS A PEOPLE STAND UP UNITED AND DEMAND THAT OUR LEADERS ALSO RISE UP AND ENSURE THAT THIS ONCE VERY PEACEFUL COUNTRY IS RESTORED BACK TO ITS FORMER GLORY. WE DEMAND THAT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS DO THE RIGHT THING BY SETTLING THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AMICABLY BEFORE LIVES OF MANY ZAMBIANS ARE RAVAGED BY THIS UGLY POLITICAL STANDOFF.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
WE SEEK THE FACE OF GOD TO INTERVENE IN THIS MATTER SO THAT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS WHO PROFESS CHRISTIANITY LIVE TRUE TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BY PRACTICING THE BIBLICAL TEACHINGS IN:

2 CORINTHIANS 13 VERSE 11:
“BE PERFECT, BE OF GOOD COMFORT, BE OF ONE MIND, LIVE IN PEACE AND THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU”,

ALSO PSALMS 133 VERSE 1TO 3:
“ BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY!..........FOR THERE THE LORD COMMANDS A BLESSING, EVEN LIFE FOR EVERMORE”.

AND LASTLY GALATIANS 3 VERSE 28:
“THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER BOND NOR FREE, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE FOR YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS”

WE ARE ALL ZAMBIANS WITH ONLY ONE ZAMBIA. LET US PRESERVE THIS ONE ZAMBIA FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL
I THANK YOU. ... See more

This morning, NGOCC Chairpeson will be featuring on Diamond TV.

Catch Sarah Longwe Live on Diamond TV at 11.30am and get to know more about Women Empowerment Programme in Zambia.