‘FEAST OF SACRIFICE’
….HH dines with Maggie Sapatu and Jeremiah Tembo, hosting a symbolic luncheon
By DAVID KANDUZA
IN a striking display of humility and national unity, President Hakainde Hichilema paused the grand affairs of State to share a traditional lunch with two ordinary citizens who went to grueling lengths to celebrate his leadership.
Maggie Sapatu, who undertook a staggering 18-day trek on foot from the remote town of Mwinilunga, North Western Province, arrived at State House bearing a uniquely Zambian gift: village chickens.
Alongside her sat Jeremiah Tembo, an ardent supporter who pedaled his bicycle over hundreds of kilometres from the hills of Lusangazi, Eastern Province, just to witness the President’s historic ascension to power.
On Sunday, September 6, 2026, their dusty paths culminated in the highest dining room in the land at Community House.
Stripping away the typical rigid protocols of presidential engagements, Mr Hichelema was seen personally adding salt to their shared plates, breaking bread as equals.
“We serve 21 million Zambians and every citizen brings something important to the table,” President Hichilema later shared in a poignant social media statement.
“Today we sat and ate together, as fellow citizens. The best is yet to come,” he said.
The encounter moved the Head of State deeply and noted that the sheer resilience of ordinary citizens served as his ultimate motivation to work harder and drive developmental policies—such as the ongoing Free Education Policy—directly to the country’s most vulnerable doorsteps.
Beyond the symbolic meal, the President announced that his administration would consult with Ms Sapatu and her family to establish a sustainable economic project to permanently uplift their livelihood
In an era often dominated by polarised political discourse, the quiet clinking of cutlery at Community House offered a powerful, unifying reminder of the New Dawn’s promise: a Zambia where no citizen was left behind and even the humblest gift was worthy of the president’s table.