PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says he continues to live at Community House, even while working from State House, because it gives him peace of mind and allows him to focus better on serving the people.
Since assuming office in 2021, the Head of State has not moved into State House permanently and some oppositions even took him to court twice over the matter.
Critics argued that the President should reside at the official residence of the Head of State.
However, during a meeting with councillors and local government leaders in Lusaka yesterday, President Hichilema said he had no problem with the scrutiny but that living in a familiar environment allowed him to work without distraction.
“If you come to my yard, where I live, I work in State House, but I live in the Community House. I know a lot of people made noise and they even took me to court twice. Why does he live in the Community House? It’s better I live where I have lived before,” President Hichilema said.
The President explained that staying in the Community House allows him to move about freely, even at night, without worrying about the unfamiliar surroundings.
The Head of State said this gives him a calmer mind, which he needs to focus on the “people’s office” in State House.
“Even if I’m dreaming in the night, I know where the toilet is. Then my mind will be freer when I’m working in the people’s office,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema also took the opportunity to remind councillors and local leaders of their responsibility to ensure that their wards are clean, orderly and safe.
He said residents should maintain their properties, paint their houses, and remove waste, while local authorities must monitor abandoned buildings, which can become hubs for criminal activity.
“Come to my area there, anytime. Don’t make an appointment. Pass through that road, you’ll find from the beginning of our property up to the end, there’s no paper there. We clean there. And we take responsibility to clean,” the President said.
He further stated that abandoned and poorly maintained properties can encourage crime and compromise public safety.
Local authorities, councillors, lawmakers and mayors must ensure these spaces are monitored and well-maintained.
“There must be no abandoned buildings where nobody works from a building, nobody knows what is happening. What if criminals are cooking crimes in there? Who should know those things? It’s the local authorities. It’s the councillors. It’s the MPs,” he said.
President Hichilema said that citizens expect clean and orderly environments in all wards and local leaders are the frontliners to ensure this vision is achieved.
“Because the people who voted for us want to see a clean Lusaka, a clean Chama, a clean Kabompo, a clean Kawama. That is the issue. That’s why I asked for this meeting. You are the frontliners, councillors. I’m not joking. Nothing is difficult. Each one cleans where they operate. The council should know who owns this property. It’s there in the database,” President Hichilema said.
By George Musonda
Kalemba March 3, 2026
