Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives a better facelift to Matero Police

Matero Police Station

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given a better facelift to Matero Police Station in Lusaka under the Church’s Mormon Helping Hands project to help the community.

The project took several weeks to give a face-lift to the once dilapidated Matero Police Station. It consisted of replacing several broken windows, cleaning windows on the street side, constructing a ceiling in the reception area, painting the reception walls and new ceiling, installing light fixtures in the main hallway and reception area, refinishing the building entrance, painting the front and sides of the main building in four distinct colors, and painting the parking / driveway barriers in the facility entrance and parking area. Some landscaping and general cleanup were also accomplished.

The project was managed by Matero Branch President Davis Chifunda with support from the other six branches in the Lusaka District. Over 60 individuals contributed their time to complete the work, amounting to over 800 labor hours during a four week period.

Working hand in hand with local government leaders, the project culminated in a handover ceremony on 16 August, 2014. Representing the local government was City Councilor for Matero, Mr. Lee Mukupa, who accepted the work efforts on behalf of the Mayor of Matero and the City Police.

“We need the Church which can stand and help the community. Your Church helped the community, and helped the government. The government and Church are partners in development of the community. Now people can take pride and respect the police as they see the newly renovated facility, with broken glass replaced, and newly painted,” he said.

Other dignitaries present were representatives of all Police departments in Lusaka

During the handover members pause for a photo

Speaking at a reception dinner hosted by the Church at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka on August 20, leader of the Church said the Matero Police Station renovation was just one of the any projects the church was doing in many countries in Africa.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Chola Katanga who represented the Inspector General of Police said the Police was grateful to the work the church had done.

“We are greateful for your support to help rehabilitate Matero Police Station by giving it a different outlook,” Katanga said. “We are looking forward to a greater partnership and I think we can do more.”

Katanga said the Police on its own cannot manage to do such kind of work and needs the help of stakeholders like the church and members of public. He praised the leadership of the Church and said the Police will always remember the good work done.

“Thank you, thank you so much to the Church for this memorable gesture,” Katanga concluded.

This is not the first time the Jesus Later-day Saints is helping the Zambia Police, in 2013 the Church renovated Manda Hill Police Post in Lusaka. The project included comprehensive refurbishment of the electrical and plumbing circuits.

The Mormon Helping Hands program brings together members of the Jesus Christ of Later-Saints and their neighbours to provide community service.