21 July 2019 | Yesterday, the president of Zambia spoke out against the perception that the Adventist Church in the country belonged to the United Party for National Development (UPND).

“We are one Zambia, one nation, one church, the church of Jesus Christ. So whether you are Catholic, Adventist, Pentecostal or whatever denomination, we are one,” said President Edgar Lungu to a crowd at Buchi Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kitwe, Zambia’s second largest city.

The head of state critiqued denominations that “think they have a political mission to tell us what to do as government…At best they can only recommend to us but they cannot order us. But you seated here can.”

The president added, “We are spending too much time fighting and the church is busy encouraging us to fight.”

According to the Lusaka Times, Lungu declared total support for the Adventist denomination and pledged 1,000 bags of cement to the Buchi congregation.

“Someone had the audacity or courage to ask me, why don’t you ever congregate with the Adventist Church? I am glad you have cleared the air, that we have been with you from inception,” he told the church.

There are over 1.2 million Adventist members in Zambia.

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