THE ecumenical carnival to toast the golden jubilee of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka is barely few days away.
The carnival is scheduled for September 16, would be convened to commemorate 50 years of the existence of the Cathedral since it was built in 1962 on what has become known as the Cathedral Hill over-looking the city of Lusaka.
Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross dean Charley Thomas and Priest Warden Nicholas Nyendwa are optimistic of a successful carnival to be held under the theme - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life - an adaptation from the New Testament book of John 14:6 in the Bible.
Canon Thomas said the parish had invited the global community which was expected to join local dignitaries, among them senior Government officials, envoys of foreign missions accredited to Zambia, first president of the Republic of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda and fourth president Rupiah Banda.
Also in attendance would be representatives from the link parish of Bath and Wells.
And to perhaps, emphasise the long-standing relationship between the Cathedral and the British Monarchy, Princess Anne, is expected in Zambia.
She would be in Zambia to represent the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations.
Princess Anne would be in Zambia for 10 days after the commemoration and her visit would go a long way in consolidating the status of the Cathedral as a worship edifice celebrated by people from a diversity back-grounds.
The visit had been confirmed as mentioned in United Kingdom (UK) media and on the official website of the British consulate in Zambia in relation to what The National newspaper of the UK called 'months of global celebrations' marking 60 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II on British throne.
According to The National, Princess Anne, the only daughter of the Queen Mother, is scheduled to travel to Zambia and Mozambique, as the other sons of the Queen, Princes Andrew and Edward - the Duke of York and Earl of Wessex - travel to India and the Caribbean, respectively.
The periodical said, "other royals embarking on jubilee sorties overseas include Prince Charles, who was scheduled to travel to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea; Prince William and his wife, who were scheduled to head to Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu; and Prince Harry who was supposed to visit Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas'.
As indicated the visit to Zambia of Princess Anne would coincide with the Anglican Cathedral programme, which runs to the end of 2012 as the parish begins another walk towards a centenary of being a haven of peace, worship and co-existence.
The Anglicans are elated that the visit of Princess Anne would coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations, and inevitably consolidate the shared history of the British Monarchy with the basilica given that it was the Queen Mother who laid the foundation stone at the cathedral site in 1957.
Twenty-two years later, the Queen returned o Zambia to visit the Cathedral during a Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Summit in 1979.
Last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams visited basilica on October 11, 2011, during which visit he met President Michael Sata and Dr Kaunda.
Mr Nyendwa, is the Golden Jubilee Organising Committee chairperson, was thankful to the local community had been supportive to make the celebrations memorable.
He paid tribute to the Government whom he called a partner in serving the Zambian community.
Among events leading to the climax of the Golden Jubilee celebrations was a fundraising dinner to be graced by musicians Maureen Lilanda and gospel muscian Ephraim Mutalange would be hosted at the parish on the evening of September 14 which is the Holy Cross Day.
The dinner would be preceded by the Holy Cross Day mass that would be celebrated at the Cathedral at 09:00 hours.
It would be held in memory of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross inaugural service that was held on September 14, 1962, and would be presided upon by David Njovu, the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka.
Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President, Harry Kalaba, who is Patriotic Front Bahati Member of Parliament would represent Vice -President Guy Scott at the dinner expected to be attended by 500 guests.
Having been completed and inaugurated on September 14,1962, the Anglican Cathedral had become a preferred venue for historic events in times when Zambia seeks to thank God for blessings, and when believers seek to galvanise national petitions to God in times of hardship.
Official literature cataloguing events surrounding the Cathedral from 1962-2012 indicate that from the pre-independence period the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross had continued to play a central role in the spiritual affairs of Zambia and inproviding guidance to the nation.
The Cathedral, being regarded as a unifying platform for Zambia in difficult times, had been used for national thanksgiving services and national reconciliation prayers.
Prior to the erection of the Cathedral worship services were conducted at the All Saints Church, which were premises and headquarters of the Zambia National Service.
In the past Cathedral Hill was home to a cinema hall and a fuel service station.
That idea of erecting the basilica lay with Oliver Wilkinson, the first bishop of the province of Central Africa of the Anglican Church comprising Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bishop Wilkinson's dream was aimed at demonstrating the Lordship of God over the city of Lusaka by locating the church atop the Cathedral Hill overlooking the British Overseas Management Area (Boma) and the Government enclave.
His dream of demonstrating the Lordship of God upon the modern State of Zambia had since attained constitutional significance given the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation which is now contained in the preamble of the Republican Constitution.
Today, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is not just a major land mark in Lusaka, but a statue of national symbolism, an embodiment of national unity that continues to draw together parties of different beliefs and opinions that would not otherwise share a common platform.
Aside from the parish hosting the Cathedral - which is the seat of the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka - it is meant to host the Archbishop of the Province of Central Africa of the Anglican Church.
This seat is held by Archbishop Albert Chama.
Other historical events include the divine service that marked the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Summit which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and Dr Kaunda on July 29,1979.
The memorable visit to Zambia by the late Pope John Paul II was hosted at the Cathedral in 1989.
The Cathedral was also the venue for the interdenominational church service that marked the ushering in of plural politics in Zambia on October 23, 1990.
The Cathedral hosted the funeral service of the late third president of the Republic of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa in September 2009.
The first time that a sitting president died while in office in Zambia on August 19, 2008, in a French Military Hospital.
Therefore, toasting 50 years of the existence of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross promises to be a memorable event of national importance.
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