Since 2015, President Edgar Lungu has declared October 18th of every year as a public holiday to be observed as a Day of National Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation.  

The President made the declaration in Exercise of the powers contained in section 3 of the Public Holidays Act. 

Each year has a theme and for 2019, the theme is “Receiving Times of Refreshing from the presence of the Lord through Reconciliation with one another and the environment for a prosperous Zambia.” 

In order to observe the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation in a reverential manner, all activities of an entertainment nature are postponed, while bars and food outlets remain closed between 06:00 hours and 18:00 hours. 

Prayers are organised throughout the day by the churches in Zambia. 

Zambia is officially a Christian nation according to the 1996 constitution, with 75% of the population having a Protestant affiliation and 20% being Roman Catholic. Christianity was brought to the country by European missionaries in the mid-19th century.