Catholic Leaders Commend President's Practical Approach to Leadership and Development

President Hakainde Hichilema has chosen to spend his holiday period at his Choma farm, prioritising cost-effectiveness and agricultural productivity over luxury foreign destinations.

During a productive meeting with Catholic Church leaders from Southern Province, including Livingstone Diocese Bishop Valentine Kalumba, Father Cletus Mwiila, and Father Gregory Mulobela from the Catholic Diocese of Monze, the President outlined his practical approach to governance.

"Rather than traveling to Seychelles, London, or Cape Town at taxpayers' expense, I would rather be here where the state doesn't incur accommodation costs," President Hichilema explained. His decision reflects the government's broader commitment to fiscal responsibility and cost reduction, principles that resonate throughout his administration's economic policies.

The President's working holiday serves a dual purpose: demonstrating fiscal prudence while championing food security through hands-on agricultural engagement. He encouraged church institutions to actively participate in food production, emphasizing that consumption must be balanced with productive contribution to national food security.

Bishop Kalumba commended the President's leadership approach, noting that he leads not merely through rhetoric but through tangible example. "You are living what you preach about food security and production. What is particularly impressive is your decision to stay here rather than spend taxpayers' money elsewhere," the Bishop observed.

The meeting reinforced the strong partnership between Church and State, with both institutions committed to collaborative development in education, healthcare, and now agricultural productivity. President Hichilema's visible presence on his farm underscores his administration's dedication to practical governance and national development priorities.