If someone can fight a war, then it is the former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu. He takes the battle into the grave.
The family of former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu seems to have opted to keep his body in South Africa until further notice, citing government interference.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has officially ended the national mourning period for the late former president Edgar Lungu, citing a prolonged impasse with the Lungu family over the repatriation of his remains from South Africa.
“Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning. this particular national mourning period is officially over,” Hichilema said.
The daughter of Edgar Lungu had revealed in South Africa that before his father’s death, he had instructed that President Hakainde Hichilema, who took over from him as president in 2021, should not move anywhere near his body.
“Lungu, who died in South Africa on 5 June while receiving medical treatment, had reportedly expressed a wish that Hichilema does not attend his funeral,” it was reported.
While the family insisted on a private ceremony, the government felt that, as a former president, Lungu deserves a state funeral.
The late Lungu’s body was supposed to be airlifted from Johannesburg to Lusaka, but this was later cancelled by the family amid the bitter feud with the Zambian government.
This forced government officials led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to fly to South Africa to negotiate with the family.
After the lengthy talks, it was agreed that Lungu’s body would be flown to Zambia aboard a private plane.
On arrival, the former president’s body was to be received by President Hichilema and accorded full military honors, after which it would be taken to his private residence.
There was also to be a state funeral presided over by President Hichilema, although Lungu had instructed that he should not move anywhere near his body.
Lungu died while receiving special treatment in South Africa
His party claimed that Lungu had been blocked by Hichilema’s government from travelling abroad and that if he had been allowed to seek treatment abroad sooner, he would have been alive today.
Lungu’s family therefore feels that it is hypocritical for a government that harassed him in life to take charge of his funeral.
On the other hand, it would be a big embarrassment to the government for a former head of state to be interred with private funeral rites and in the absence of the sitting president.
That’s why government officials are doing everything to persuade the family.
It appears Lungu died with great bitterness against Hichilema. The two were bitter political rivals who harassed each other using state power.
In a televised address, President Hichilema said the government had exhausted all avenues to facilitate a state funeral but the family’s failure to deliver the body as agreed had left the nation in limbo.
The government had reached a consensus with the family on 15 June, paving the way for a state funeral and burial.
However, the family reversed course, citing unresolved concerns over the funeral program and President Hichilema’s involvement.
The dispute has its roots in a long-standing rivalry between Lungu and Hichilema, dating back to their contentious political battles.