LUSUKA, Zambia – Aug. 3, 2021 PRLog — Zambia will hold national elections on Aug. 12. Among the 16 candidates for president is an Anglican prelate, The Rt. Rev. Musonda Selwyn Trevor Mwamba, the former Bishop of Botswana, is rated as a remote possibility by most political observers, who see the campaign as mainly a race between the incumbent President, Edgar Lungu, and Hakainde Hiichilema, his long-time rival. Be that as it may, he is my candidate, a man I believe can lead Zambia to a better future. I pray that he will sweep the elections. I am praying for the people of Zambia in these dark times. I am praying that Zambia votes for change. I am praying that with a change in leadership peace will follow.  I am praying for a wise man to lead his country, a man I call Bishop Trevor.

I met Bishop Trevor in the summer of 2008.  The Swanson family was attending the 2008 Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops to promote the fledgling ministry of Katrina’s Dream. My father-in-law, the Rev. George Swanson, had made arrangements for dinner with the then recently elected Bishop of Botswana. Botswana held a special place in the hearts of the Swansons, who had ministered there in the late 1960s. It was there that my mother-in-law, the Rev. Katrina Swanson was inspired to become one of the first women to be ordained priests in the Episcopal Church. It was the women and the strength and resilience of the peoples of Africa that inspired her to move her church and nation forward on the path to freedom and equality for all. Katrina Swanson died in 2006, and her family created Katrina’s Dream to continue her work. So, it came to be that we had dinner with the Bishop of Botswana, at a small pub in Canterbury England. And from that dinner with Bishop Trevor, our longtime friend Rev. Robert Coolidge, my father-in-law, my husband William Swanson, our sons River and Harry, and I sprang forth many good things.

As the ministry of Katrina’s Dream grew, we remained in touch with Bishop Trevor and a lifelong friendship blossomed. Then my husband died unexpectedly. Now a widow, braving the world, with little support I struggled along, I called friends and family far and wide, each response so different from the next as I broke the news of William’s untimely death. So, it came to pass that I called upon Bishop Trevor. In those moments the compassion and grace he showered on me restored my faith. I knew in that instance it was God’s will that I should turn to him for spiritual comfort and strength. I asked that he speak to my sons and be present for them. Without hesitation in my hour of need and despair, he stepped forward.

Over the years, I have come to call upon him time again and each and every time he has always risen to the occasion supporting our ministry through prayer and action.

He accepted a seat on the board of directors of Katrina’s Dream and has championed the Let’s Pass the ERA Program here in the United States. The Equal Rights Amendment is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will make all people equal under the law whether they be a man or a woman. It addresses the roots of sexism and racism.  In March 2017, Bishop Trevor prayed telephonically with colleagues Tammy Simkins and Cathy Pagnelli Kaelin of ERA Action in the hallowed halls of the Nevada General Assembly as we lobbied the legislators who under the leadership of Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman voted “Yea!” with resounding bipartisan support and Nevada became the first state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 21st century. Subsequently, he has prayed with a number of my colleagues, and Katrina’s Dream held its first parallel event Let’s Pass the Equal Rights Amendment at the 63rd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women’s conference on March 11, 2019.  The attendees were welcomed by Bishop Trevor.  Currently, Katrina’s Dream is urging the US Senate Chamber to adopt the ERA, the last step before it is added to the US Constitution.

Bishop Trevor is a visionary and a man of action, He operates with a strong moral compass, integrity, and a powerful commitment to serving all God’s people. Thus, I pray that Bishop Trevor will be elected as the next president of Zambia. I enlist your support and prayers too.