A clergy in the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) has expressed sadness with high levels of cohabiting among Zambians, that has risen to 1.2% of the Zambian Population according to the 2022 National census.
Reacting to the report unveiled yesterday, UCZ Galilee and Silverest congregations Minister-in-charge , Cynthia Kabanda, has therefore called on the church to invest in hosting dedicated family church meetings, aimed at reaffirming the nation’s commitment to traditional marriage and family structures.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Rev. Kabanda warned that the increasing normalization of cohabiting, as indicated in the recent Census report, especially among young adults, poses a direct threat to Zambia’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
“Cohabiting is not a part of the Zambian tradition and it does not translate marriage,” said Rev Kabanda.
She has therefore emphasized the need to go back to the values that made communities strong including commitment, honour, and spiritual unity through marriage.
Rev Kabanda has insisted that no social or economic pressure should justify drifting from Zambia’s identity.
Rev. Kabanda has since called on the church to address this growing concern by embarking on family church programmes that will focus on restoring family roles, prayer and counselling and encouraging parents to be intentional role models in teaching commitment and respect among others.
By Margaret Mwanza
