LUSAKA, Zambia — The passing of Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu last week has ignited a bitter dispute over his funeral arrangements, culminating in a striking revelation from his family: Lungu left explicit instructions that his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, “should not be anywhere near” his body.
This latest development deepens the long-standing political rivalry between the two leaders, with Hichilema having defeated Lungu in the 2021 election after five previous attempts.
The Zambian government’s initial plan to repatriate Lungu’s body from South Africa on Wednesday was thwarted by the ongoing disagreement with his family and the Patriotic Front (PF) party regarding mourning and funeral preparations.
Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, passed away in South Africa at the age of 68 from an undisclosed illness, though the PF stated last week he had been receiving “specialised treatment” there.
The PF has controversially alleged that Lungu was barred from leaving the country for years, suggesting his earlier access to medical treatment abroad might have altered the outcome.
The government has denied this accusation. In an effort to resolve the deadlock, Zambia’s Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe was among government officials who traveled to South Africa on Wednesday for discussions with Lungu’s widow, Esther, and his influential daughter, Tasila.
While the government aims to accord Lungu a state funeral, the Lungu family’s spokesman, lawyer Makebi Zulu, had previously indicated to Vivid Voice News that the family was not opposed to this, but desired a say in who would preside over the service.
However, in a video released from South Africa on Thursday, Mr. Zulu asserted that the family had finalized “all logistics” to fulfill Lungu’s wishes for a private funeral and his directive that Hichilema “should not be anywhere near” his body.
Mr. Zulu further added that the government was acting as though the family had “no say” over his burial and the manner of mourning, emphasizing the family’s desire that the “conscience of the deceased should not be betrayed.”
In response, Foreign Minister Haimbe acknowledged the bereaved family’s wishes but stressed that Lungu’s funeral held significance for all Zambians as he was a former head of state.
“I’m sure all of us would want to have a fitting send-off for our former president, and that is what we must work towards achieving,” the foreign minister told local journalists.
An earlier government statement had indicated that “constructive consultations” were continuing with Lungu’s family to ensure the “smooth repatriation” of his body.
The escalating dispute has created considerable sadness and confusion among Zambians, who are uncertain how to observe the mourning period for their former president.
The government declared a seven-day national mourning period commencing last Saturday, even though the PF had announced one days earlier.
Furthermore, the government designated a state-owned lodge in Lusaka as the official mourning venue, a plan swiftly rejected by the PF, which instead directed mourners to its party headquarters.
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Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa told Vivid Voice News that this “tug-of-war” underscores the pressing need for Zambia to establish clear legislation outlining funeral arrangements for both sitting and former presidents. Despite this, he maintained that, ultimately, the family’s wishes should be respected.
After his defeat in the 2021 election, Lungu had initially withdrawn from politics but later re-entered the political arena.
He remained the Patriotic Front’s most significant political figure and harbored ambitions to contest the presidency once more.
However, late last year, the Constitutional Court barred him from running, ruling that he had already served the maximum two terms permitted by law.
