In a joint pastoral letter on Independence Day Eve, Zambia's three "mother" body churches—the Zambia Episcopal Conference, Christian Council of Zambia, and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia—stressed the need for poverty reduction as a top priority: 
Katika barua ya pamoja ya kichungaji kwenye mkesha wa siku ya Uhuru, makanisa makuu matatu ya Zambia—Mkutano Mkuu wa Maaskofu Zambia, Baraza la Wakristo Zambia, na Umoja wa Kiinjili wa Zambia—yalisisitiza juu ya haja ya kuchukuliwa hatua za kupunguza umasikini kama kipaumbele cha taifa: