Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu, who passed away last week in South Africa at the age of 68, left strict instructions that his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, “should not be anywhere near” his body, according to his family. This directive has intensified the ongoing dispute between Lungu’s family, his political party the Patriotic Front (PF) and the government over funeral arrangements.
The government had planned to fly Lungu’s body home on Wednesday and give him a state funeral, but disagreements over mourning protocols have delayed the repatriation. The PF and Lungu’s family insist on having a say in how the funeral is conducted, with family spokesman Makebi Zulu accusing the government of acting as though they had no control over the burial process.
Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who traveled to South Africa for discussions with Lungu’s widow Esther and daughter Tasila, emphasized that the funeral was a matter of national significance and should be conducted in a way that honors Lungu’s legacy.
The dispute has left many Zambians uncertain about how to mourn the late president. The government declared a seven day national mourning period, but the PF had already announced its own mourning schedule a day earlier. Additionally, the government designated a state owned lodge in Lusaka as the official mourning venue, while the PF directed supporters to its party headquarters instead.
Legal experts, including constitutional lawyer John Sangwa, have suggested that Zambia needs legislation to outline funeral arrangements for presidents and ex-presidents to prevent future disputes. He argued that while national interests are important, the wishes of the deceased’s family should be respected.
Lungu, who briefly stepped away from politics after his 2021 defeat, later returned as a key figure in the opposition PF. However, at the end of last year, the Constitutional Court barred him from running for president again, ruling that he had already served the maximum two terms allowed by law.
