National Prayer Day in 2025

When is National Prayer Day?

National Prayer Day is a public holiday in Zambia observed on October 18th.

This aim of this holiday is as a day for national prayer, fasting, repentance and reconciliation.

History of National Prayer Day

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.