Church mother bodies have merged the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation with the commemoration of Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation into one national event after consultations with the government. Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka…

 Church mother bodies have merged the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation with the commemoration of Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation into one national event after consultations with the government.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Vice-President, Juden Siachitema, announced that December 29, 2026, will mark the first commemoration of the merged event this year.

Bishop Siachitema added that the decision aims to create a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable national observance as it follows consultations with the government.

The clergy said the Church has also reaffirmed the importance of prayer, repentance, thanksgiving and reconciliation, noting that consolidating the events does not diminish their significance or meaning but rather enhances them.

The Bishop further stated that the National Day of Prayer will still take place this year, but there will be no requirement for a single large national gathering, emphasising that individual churches are encouraged to dedicate time to prayer during their regular Sunday services.

Bishop Siachitema further emphasised that consultations between the Church and the Government reflect the importance of constructive partnership on matters concerning the nation’s spiritual and social well-being.

“While respecting the distinct constitutional responsibilities of each, we affirm the importance of maintaining the distinction between the responsibilities of the Church and those of the Government,” he said.

The first merged event will be commemorated under the theme “National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage.”

Church mother bodies represented at the event included the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA), the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and the Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ), among others.