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International Day of Peace Observed in Zambia
Written by Fabrice Djiamdoum, UPF-Zambia
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Lusaka, Zambia—Speakers at the 2015 International Day of Peace celebration urged participants to work together to build a better Zambia and a better world.
About 100 participants, including religious leaders, NGO leaders, teachers, students and Ambassadors for Peace, attended the meeting, which was held on September 26, 2015, at the UPF Peace Embassy in the capital, Lusaka.
The first of the seven speakers was UPF-Zambia Chair Gen. Malimba Nathaniel Masheke. He defined the word “peace” as “to be free of disputes, mental stress, anxiety; feeling secured, loved.” He urged participants to go beyond themselves by opening their hearts through forgiveness, love and unity. He concluded by saying, “Peace can be attained if all men and women work in partnership.”
The second speaker was the guest of honor representing the government, the deputy minister of home affairs, Hon. Col. Gerry Chanda. In his speech, Col. Chanda emphasized that the family is the best place to exercise a lasting peace. “The interdependence amongst nations ultimately is what has reduced our world to a global village,” he said. “In a true, dignified partnership, each side offers something to the other(s). No one can claim to have all, and we can learn from each other,” he said in conclusion.
Mr. Charles Nonde, team assistant at the United Nations Information Center, read the 2015 International Day of Peace message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which he called for all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe a global cease-fire.
Mr. Goodwell Lungu, the executive director of Transparency International Zambia, said that good governance, accountability and the fight against corruption are essential to creating lasting peace. He concluded his speech by requesting that all efforts, from the individual level to the world level, be joined together to partner together for peace.
UPF-Zambia Secretary General Rev. Rudolf Faerber, the fifth speaker, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the five core principles of Ambassadors for Peace. At the end of his presentation, he called on all the stakeholders to put their hands together to create a peaceful world.
Ms. Renu Patel and Mr. Arthur Dzeke Dzeke both are active students of Brahma Kumaris in Zambia. In their speeches, followed by songs of meditation, they called upon all religions to cooperate toward lasting peace.
Participants had an opportunity to interact with the speakers.
Afterward, pupils from Barlastone Park Divine School performed a song and poem on peace.
During the event, five new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed. These were the deputy minister of home affairs, the executive director of Transparency International Zambia, representatives from Brahma Kumaris, and Mrs. Judith Mwila, founder and president of the NGO Families are Nations.
The cutting of a cake of peace, a group photo and refreshments concluded the event.
At the end, participants expressed their satisfaction with the different speeches and admitted having learned the importance of partnership in peace. They urged UPF to multiply such events to create more awareness.
The event was covered and broadcast by several media houses.
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