Hichilema Used Personal Funds for Community House, Unlike Zuma’s Nkandla Scandal

Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana reveals that President Hakainde Hichilema’s personal resources funded renovations to Community House, dismissing any speculations that state resources were involved in the project.

Speaking on Prime TV’s Oxygen of Democracy, Kawana made it clear that the Patriotic Front (PF) would have no grounds to seize the property should they return to power. “There is no basis for PF to grab Community House if they bounce back through whatever means,” he stated, shutting down any claim that the opposition could reclaim the residence.

The issue has drawn comparisons to the controversy surrounding former South African President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence, where over R265 million of public funds were used for extensive upgrades to Zuma’s private home. However, Kawana strongly rejected these parallels, stressing that President Hichilema’s case is fundamentally different.

“It is not even comparable. Jacob Zuma was in the presidential residence while using public resources to renovate his private home. The court found that he had no right to do so and ordered him to pay back the state. This President (Hichilema) opted to stay in his own residence and not occupy State House,” he explained.

Kawana’s remarks serve as a firm reminder that Hichilema’s handling of Community House stands in contrast to past scandals, reinforcing his stance on transparency and accountability.