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The government has clarified that a prayer gathering organised by the Standing-in-the-Gap team at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka was cancelled following police advice citing security constraints, not because officers stormed the venue as claimed on social media.
In a statement issued by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, the government dismissed as false reports suggesting that the Zambia Police Service had dispersed worshippers during the Thursday night event on 23rd October 2025.
“The correct position is that there was no police deployment or presence at the event. The congregants were addressed and dispersed by the organisers of the event with no police assistance,” Kawana said.
He explained that the organisers had earlier notified the police of their planned overnight prayer meeting scheduled for the eve of Independence Day.
However, on 22nd October, Kawana claimed that police advised them to reschedule the event, saying they were unable to guarantee the safety of attendees due to other major national security operations taking place that night.
“This advice was given against the background that the Zambia Police Service was involved in two major security operations — one in relation to the State Banquet in honour of a visiting foreign Head of State, and another involving the Vice President at the flag-hoisting ceremony to mark Independence Day,” the statement read.
According to Kawana, the Standing-in-the-Gap team collected the written notification from the police on the afternoon of 23rd October and later informed congregants that night that the gathering could not proceed.
Kawana said the organisers announced the decision around 21:00 hours and asked worshippers to disperse peacefully, which they did without police involvement.
“It is, therefore, a total fabrication that police stormed the prayer event to disperse worshippers. The misinformation was generated by detractors of government to spread discontentment among citizens,” he stated.
The government has since urged citizens to ignore misleading social media reports and rely on official sources for accurate information on national matters.
On October 24, President Hakainde Hichilema ordered an investigation into the cancellation of the Standing in the Gap prayers that were scheduled to take place at Lusaka’s OYDC on Thursday evening.
Police reportedly stopped hundreds of Christian worshippers, led by Apostle Sunday Sinyangwe of Shalom Embassy Ministries, from holding the overnight vigil, allegedly acting on instructions from the President on October 23, 2025.
However, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka clarified in a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday that President Hichilema had issued no such directive.
“The President would never prevent Christians or any faith group from holding prayers, especially during this sacred period marking the 61st Independence Anniversary of our nation, or indeed any other period,” Hamasaka said.
He added that the President regretted the incident and had directed an immediate investigation to establish the facts and ensure accountability.
Hamasaka further described President Hichilema as a devout Christian who holds his faith with utmost sincerity and respect.
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