The death of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has sparked a heated dispute between his family, his political party—the Patriotic Front (PF)—and the ruling government, throwing funeral arrangements for the late leader into chaos and confusion.
Lungu, who led the country from 2015 to 2021, died last Thursday at age 68 in South Africa after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. As Zambians mourned the former president—gospel music replacing regular programming on radio stations nationwide—the question of how to honour him has become deeply politicized.
The Zambian government has announced a state funeral and designated a government-owned lodge in the capital, Lusaka, as the official mourning site. However, the PF has rejected this plan, directing mourners instead to its own party headquarters.
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Lungu’s family has added another layer to the impasse. While not opposing a state funeral, they are demanding to choose who officiates it, according to family lawyer Makebi Zulu. The family also blocked the government’s initial attempt to repatriate the body, insisting on handling its return themselves.
“The state was saying, ‘We are giving him full military honours, therefore we’re taking over from here’—as if to say the family had no say in what happens next,” Zulu told the BBC.
Meanwhile, two conflicting condolence books have emerged: the government’s at the lodge and the PF’s at its headquarters. The timeline for repatriating Lungu’s remains remains uncertain, even as talks between the government and the family continue.
Seven days of national mourning declared by the government was also preempted by the PF, adding to public confusion about when and how national observances would proceed.
The tension reflects a long-standing rivalry between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. In 2017, Lungu’s government jailed Hichilema for over 100 days on treason charges. Four years later, Hichilema defeated Lungu at the polls. The political animosity has lingered ever since.
Now, the PF and the late president’s family are alleging that Lungu was effectively barred from leaving the country for medical care in earlier years—an allegation the government denies. Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa dismissed the accusations and accused the PF of using Lungu’s death for political leverage.
“This is not about honouring a national figure; it’s about a political comeback,” Mweetwa said.
A memorial service was held for Lungu in Pretoria, South Africa, attended by his widow, Esther Lungu, and other family members. There, it was revealed that his remains would not be flown back to Zambia as earlier expected, due to the ongoing impasse.
The standoff echoes other similar disputes across Africa. In 2021, Zambia’s founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, was buried in a government-designated site despite his family’s objections. In Zimbabwe, the family of former President Robert Mugabe refused to have him buried at Heroes’ Acre, leading to a prolonged legal dispute that continues today.
While the Zambian government has the constitution on its side in determining funeral protocols for former heads of state, the PF’s influence and Lungu’s political legacy continue to shape the debate.
Envoys have now been sent to South Africa to negotiate with the family in hopes of reaching a consensus. But for now, Zambians remain without clarity on when, how, and where the nation’s sixth president will be laid to rest.
BBC