Lusaka, Zambia - UPF-Zambia commemorated the UN International Day of Families under the theme “Families Matter for the Achievement of Development Goals.” About 100 people including Ambassadors for Peace, teachers, clergymen, students, youth, couples and families and people from different walks of life attended the May 24, 2014 event.
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Two parts characterized the commemoration:
In the first part the MC of the event, Mr. Lawrence Banda of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification-Zambia introduced the program and the speakers to the participants.
Mrs. Eunice Sanfo, vice president of the Women's Federation for World Peace-Zambia, read to the participants the UN Secretary-General's message on the occasion of the commemoration of International Day of Families.
The second speaker was the UPF-Zambia chapter chairman, Gen. Malimba Nathaniel Masheke. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that marriage and family are the basis of human development. He also said that the protection of society from the moral decline of youth, increases in crime, drug abuse and corruption, and the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS requires strong, healthy and loving families. Finally, he said: “The future of Zambia rests on how citizens love, cooperate and relate within their families."
Rev. Rudolf Faerber, UPF-Zambia secretary general, was the third speaker. In his PowerPoint presentation on the topic "Solving Moral Confusion," he explained about the importance of the creation of one man for one woman by God. He further emphasized that freedom and responsibility must go hand in hand. Finally, he advised the couples and youths present to cultivate fidelity within marriage and keeping purity respectively as keys for lasting peace.
Amb. Godfrey Simasiku, former Zambian ambassador to Japan and Ambassador for Peace, gave an address. In his address, he also advised families to learn to value the importance of families. And finally, he urged all the religious leaders to speak against practices that are destroying families.
Also the UPF Statement on Families was read by Mrs. Annabelle Banda, secretary general of the Women's Federation for World Peace-Zambia.
On behalf of all participants, one participant expressed his satisfaction having received deep advice from the speakers and promise to share the teachings with his students, friends and others.
In the second part of the commemoration, participants had the opportunity to taste typical food from Zambia, DR Congo, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Jamaica, Germany, Austria, Japan and Philippines, which were prepared especially for the event in order to bring the spirit of one family under God.