A standoff between Zambia’s government and the Patriotic Front (PF) has led to confusion over the funeral arrangements for former President Edgar Lungu, who passed away on June 5 at the age of 68. Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, remained influential in Zambian politics despite losing the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.
The government declared a seven-day national mourning period and announced a state funeral for the former president at a government-owned lodge in Lusaka. However, the PF rejected this plan, directing mourners to its headquarters instead. Lungu’s family has expressed reservations about the government’s arrangements, with their lawyer, Makebi Zulu, stating that they want to choose who will preside over the funeral. “The state was saying, ‘We are giving him full military honours, therefore we’re taking over from here’ – as if to say that ‘you have no say over what happens,'” Zulu said.
The PF and Lungu’s family have also accused the government of being partly responsible for the former president’s death, alleging that he was banned from leaving the country for years and couldn’t seek medical treatment sooner. However, the government has vehemently denied these claims, with spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa insisting that Lungu was never prohibited from traveling. Mweetwa added that the PF is trying to use Lungu’s death as a “springboard” for a “political comeback”.
This conflict is not unprecedented in Zambia. In 2021, the family of former President Kenneth Kaunda clashed with the government over his burial site, despite the High Court ruling that national interest takes precedence over individual or family preferences. Similar disputes have occurred in other African countries, including Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe’s family refused to allow him to be buried at the national Heroes’ Acre.
The ongoing tensions between the government and the PF pose a threat to the smooth execution of the funeral, leaving many Zambians unsure of where and how to honor their former leader. A memorial service for Lungu has already been held in South Africa, attended by his family, including his widow. The government has sent envoys to South Africa to negotiate with Lungu’s family, but the situation remains uncertain.