State House has dismissed suggestions that it is inappropriate for the President to be seen in the same public space with the Chief Justice or the Speaker of the National Assembly, stating that there is no law in Zambia that prohibits such interaction.
Chief Communications Specialist at State House Clayson Hamasaka said the clarification follows remarks by lawyer John Sangwa, who reportedly questioned the optics of the President, the Chief Justice and the Speaker attending the same traditional ceremony.
Hamasaka stressed that the Constitution of Zambia contains no provision barring senior government officials from attending the same public or cultural event.
He further emphasized that public office holders remain citizens first, and their appointment to high office does not take away their right to participate in national traditions and cultural activities.
“Their elevation to high office does not strip them of the right to participate in cultural life,” Hamasaka said.
He noted that traditional ceremonies such as the Nc’wala Ceremony are national events that bring together Zambians from all walks of life, regardless of political or institutional positions.
Hamasaka added that the presence of senior officials at such ceremonies reflects their citizenship and their long-standing personal connection to the country’s cultural heritage.
He also pointed out that greeting one another in public is simply a matter of courtesy and should not be politicised.
Hamasaka said what matters most is not whether senior officials attend the same ceremony, but whether they continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with integrity, professionalism and impartiality.
He reaffirmed that President Hakainde Hichilema has consistently demonstrated respect for the principle of separation of powers among the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.
The statement has since sparked debate online, with some agreeing that national ceremonies are meant to unite citizens, while others argue that public perception still matters when top officials appear together.