Controversy Surrounds Burial Plans for Zambia's Former President

Zambia's national mourning period for ex-President Edgar Lungu has been cancelled as tensions rise between his family and the government regarding burial plans. President Hakainde Hichilema called for an end to mourning, while the family blocked the repatriation of Lungu's body due to disagreements.

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has announced the abrupt termination of the national mourning period for former President Edgar Lungu, as tensions escalate between the family of the deceased leader and the government over his funeral arrangements. The national mourning was first set to last from June 8 to June 14 but was extended to June 23, reflecting ongoing attempts to resolve disagreements over the burial.

In a statement on Thursday evening, President Hichilema emphasized the need to "resume normal life," saying that the government had made every effort to engage with Lungu's family. The plans for Lungu’s burial had included a full military ceremony and a viewing at his residence, with arrangements made for his body to be repatriated from South Africa.

However, the Lungu family unexpectedly halted these plans on Wednesday, refusing to allow the body to be returned, citing a breakdown in agreements with the government. They expressed a hope that Lungu could still be buried back in Zambia at a later date. The government has since expressed its regret and issued an apology to South African officials involved in the planned repatriation.

President Hichilema stated that Lungu, as a former president, "belongs to the nation of Zambia," asserting that the leader deserved a burial with full honors in his home country. He indicated that the current situation of ongoing mourning was untenable and that a decision must be reached soon.

The opposition Patriotic Front, which Lungu led, has sided with the family, criticizing the government for turning a solemn event into a political issue. Civil society leaders have voiced their concerns over the implications of the stand-off for national dignity, urging for dialogue and a resolution that would honor Lungu’s memory while keeping the nation united.

Lungu passed away in South Africa earlier this month while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. Having served as Zambia's sixth president from 2015 to 2021, Lungu had ambitions of returning to the presidency but faced legal challenges that barred his candidacy for future elections. Despite his disqualification, he remained an influential figure in Zambian politics and a vocal critic of his successor.