The Archdeacon of Lusaka has called upon Anglicans to be a witness to the people of Zambia by setting aside tribal hatreds and jealousies by seeking their identity in Jesus Christ. According to an account printed by the ZANIS news agency the Ven. Jackson Katete told a gathering of 800 Alpha Course leaders on 14 Feb 2015 at Holy Cross Cathedral the divisions brought to light by last month’s presidential elections could only “mended by men and women with a true relationship with God who look beyond the political, tribal and ethnical background of the people.” On 20 Jan 2015 Zambians went to the polls to elect a successor to fill the remainder of President Michael Sata’s term after Sata died in October. The ruling Patriotic Front party’s candidate, Edgar Lungu bested United Party for National Development candidate Hakainde Hichilema by 27,757 votes out of over 1.67 million cast. Northern and Eastern Zambia backed the PF candidate while Southern and Eastern Zambia backed the opposition. Dr. Hichilema charged the PF with voter fraud, but urged his supporters not to take to the streets to protest the results. General Elections for Parliament and President are scheduled for September 2016. Archdeacon Katete told the Alpha Conference that Scripture taught that there were no tribes or castes in Christ, and that as Christians they must lead the way in breaking the idols of tribal identity that had blocked so many from a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
