A heated dispute has erupted in Zambia over the funeral of former President Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa last week at the age of 68. A family spokesperson, lawyer Makebi Zulu, revealed that Lungu explicitly instructed that his political rival and successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, “should not be anywhere near” his body.
This has further inflamed tensions between Lungu’s family, his Patriotic Front (PF) party, and the Government, which is pushing for a State funeral in honour of the late leader who served from 2015 to 2021. The Government’s plan to repatriate his body on Wednesday stalled due to the ongoing disagreement.
The family insists on fulfilling Lungu’s wish for a private funeral, accusing the government of disregarding their right to decide how he should be mourned. The PF maintains that Lungu’s prolonged travel restrictions contributed to his death, alleging that earlier access to specialised treatment abroad might have saved his life—a claim the government has strongly denied. Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe, however, emphasised that Lungu’s legacy belongs to all Zambians, and the nation deserves the opportunity to bid him a dignified farewell, with consultations ongoing to resolve the impasse.
The feud has left many Zambians bewildered about how to properly honour their late president. Conflicting mourning arrangements—between the government’s official venue in Lusaka and PF’s headquarters—have caused confusion. Meanwhile, constitutional experts argue that Zambia must urgently legislate guidelines for the funerals of presidents and former presidents. Despite stepping back after his 2021 electoral loss, Lungu remained a central figure in opposition politics until he was barred by the Constitutional Court from running again, having already served two terms.
