Zambia is grappling with a political and familial dispute over the funeral arrangements of former President Edgar Lungu.
Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, passed away last week at the age of 68 after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
His death has deeply shocked the nation, with radio stations across Zambia playing gospel music in tribute to the former leader, who remained influential in politics despite being barred from contesting next year’s election.
The government announced plans for a state funeral and designated a lodge it owns in Lusaka as the official venue for mourning. However, the PF rejected this arrangement, directing mourners to gather at its party headquarters instead.
Meanwhile, Lungu’s family has expressed no opposition to a state funeral but insists on having the authority to choose who will preside over it, according to family lawyer Makebi Zulu.
The disagreement extends to the official book of condolence. While the government set up a book at the lodge, the PF urged supporters to sign theirs at the party headquarters.
The government initially sought to repatriate Lungu’s body from South Africa last week, but the PF and the family insisted on managing the process themselves. “The state was saying, ‘We are giving him full military honours, therefore we’re taking over from here,’ as if to say ‘you have no say over what happens,’” Mr. Zulu explained.
Plans for returning Lungu’s remains remain unsettled, though the family is now engaging with the government to resolve the issue.
Confusion has also arisen over the official mourning period, during which entertainment such as football matches and concerts are suspended. The government declared a seven-day national mourning period starting last Saturday, but the PF announced theirs a day earlier.
This discord reflects the ongoing fraught relationship between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. The two have been long-time rivals; in 2017, when Lungu was president, Hichilema was imprisoned for over 100 days on treason charges after his motorcade allegedly failed to yield to Lungu. The Commonwealth intervened to secure Hichilema’s release. After five attempts, Hichilema defeated Lungu in the 2021 election.
Source: Africafeeds.com
