Bilal Ahmed, Missionary, Zambia
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Petauke, Zambia, organised a Peace Symposium with the theme “Love, Justice and Peace: A Universal Faith Message”, on 15 February 2025.
The event started with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcoming remark by my humble self and several speeches by dignitaries. The honourable senior chief Kalindawalo sent a representative who commended the efforts of the Jamaat towards peace through the provision of social needs for humanity, such as education, health, water reticulation and many other social amenities. The District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) delivered a speech and appreciated the Jamaat for the initiative of quality education provision by opening doors to the less privileged children who have accessed quality education through the secondary schools that the mission has managed to open in three provinces of Zambia. The Honourable District Commissioner of Petauke delivered a speech and applauded the approach of coordinating and uniting interfaith harmony in her district and appreciated the Jamaat for such an event. The former Member of Parliament and aspiring candidate, Mr Severian Lungu, also delivered a speech in which he expressed his wish to learn from the Jamaat the ways to promote and spread peace in our societies.In the end, the President and Missionary-in-Charge of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Zambia, Muhammad Javed Sahib, delivered a speech and explained the teachings of Islam about peace, love, harmony and brotherhood. The event ended with a silent prayer. The peace symposium was covered by the media and representatives from two radio stations (Radio Explorer, Radio Pasme) were also in attendance and later broadcast the event on their respective stations. Copies of the Holy Quran and the book World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace were given to all dignitaries. The total attendance of guests was 115.