WHEN President Hakainde Hichilema stood before the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) during its Diamond Jubilee celebrations, his K1.2 million donation was more than just a gesture. It was a statement of gratitude, faith, and leadership.
Let’s get one thing straight: the Church survives on the goodwill of believers and well-wishers. Every Sunday, the UCZ, like any other Church, survives on offerings, tithes, and donations. That’s how it pays for missions, schools, hospitals, and social outreach.
So, what’s so scandalous about a man blessed with resources giving back to God through the church? 
Critics who rushed to cry “hypocrisy” missed the bigger picture. This was not a political stunt; it was an act of reverence.
The same people who would have called him stingy for walking away empty-handed are now the ones questioning his generosity. That double standard exposes the real issue, not the donation itself, but the chronic habit of politicising every good deed President Hichilema does.
In a culture that celebrates giving, it’s ironic that when a national leader gives to the church, some pretend not to see faith. For them, it’s always politics. But President Hakainde’s gifts fit squarely within the spirit of the celebration.
The UCZ was marking 60 years of service to Zambia, six decades of moulding moral fibre, educating children, healing the sick, and feeding the poor.
Supporting that legacy is not a sin; it’s stewardship.
The truth is simple: you can’t call yourself a Christian nation and still ridicule an offering.
President Hichilema gave out of the blessings God has entrusted him with, and in doing so, reaffirmed that leadership is not just about policy. It’s about examples.
Let’s stop pretending that generosity from a sitting President is a crime. President Hichilema did what any believer would do in the house of God. He sowed a seed.
And sometimes, that single act of faith says more about a leader’s heart than any political speech ever could.
In the end, President Hichilema did not buy applause; he gave honour to God, to the Church, and to the nation’s conscience.
