In a controversial decision, the family of Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu has announced that he will be buried in South Africa following a dispute over his funeral arrangements with the Zambian government. Lungu, who served as the country's sixth president from 2015 until 2021, had passed away while receiving medical treatment in South Africa earlier this month.
Initially scheduled for a state funeral in Lusaka on Sunday, plans shifted dramatically when Lungu's family requested not to have his remains repatriated to Zambia. President Hakainde Hichilema, who had received the family’s consent for a state funeral, abruptly ended the official mourning period, citing a need for the nation to return to normalcy amid the conflict.
Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu confirmed that the burial will take place in Johannesburg in "dignity and peace," thanking the South African government for respecting their request during this "deeply emotional period." This marked a historic moment, as it will be the first instance of a former head of state from another country being interred in South Africa.
Tensions between the government and Lungu’s family escalated as politicians, including Hichilema, emphasized that a former president "should be buried in Zambia with full honours." Family members remained resolute, emphasizing that a private ceremony aligns with Lungu's wishes expressed in his will, where he specifically requested that Hichilema, his long-time political rival, should not attend his funeral.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), which Lungu led, has rallied behind the family, asserting that the government has politicized a solemn occasion. Acting PF president Given Lubinda criticized the government's actions, saying, "This is not how we treat a former head of state.”
Civil society organizations have called for reconciliation, urging humility and dialogue to honor Lungu's memory and maintain national unity. Emmanuel Chikoya, the head of the Council of Churches in Zambia, echoed this plea, addressing the need for a respectful resolution to the ongoing dispute.
Lungu's political legacy remains potent even after his electoral defeat in 2021, and he had aspirations for a political comeback, despite being barred from future presidential runs due to term limits. His influence in Zambian politics endures, as evidenced by his ongoing criticism of President Hichilema's administration.
Initially scheduled for a state funeral in Lusaka on Sunday, plans shifted dramatically when Lungu's family requested not to have his remains repatriated to Zambia. President Hakainde Hichilema, who had received the family’s consent for a state funeral, abruptly ended the official mourning period, citing a need for the nation to return to normalcy amid the conflict.
Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu confirmed that the burial will take place in Johannesburg in "dignity and peace," thanking the South African government for respecting their request during this "deeply emotional period." This marked a historic moment, as it will be the first instance of a former head of state from another country being interred in South Africa.
Tensions between the government and Lungu’s family escalated as politicians, including Hichilema, emphasized that a former president "should be buried in Zambia with full honours." Family members remained resolute, emphasizing that a private ceremony aligns with Lungu's wishes expressed in his will, where he specifically requested that Hichilema, his long-time political rival, should not attend his funeral.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), which Lungu led, has rallied behind the family, asserting that the government has politicized a solemn occasion. Acting PF president Given Lubinda criticized the government's actions, saying, "This is not how we treat a former head of state.”
Civil society organizations have called for reconciliation, urging humility and dialogue to honor Lungu's memory and maintain national unity. Emmanuel Chikoya, the head of the Council of Churches in Zambia, echoed this plea, addressing the need for a respectful resolution to the ongoing dispute.
Lungu's political legacy remains potent even after his electoral defeat in 2021, and he had aspirations for a political comeback, despite being barred from future presidential runs due to term limits. His influence in Zambian politics endures, as evidenced by his ongoing criticism of President Hichilema's administration.
