HUMAN Rights activist and political commentator, Laura Miti has proposed that Zambia preserves a piece of its political theatre by turning the empty grave of former president Edgar Lungu into a national historical monument.
This follows confirmation that Lungu will be buried in South Africa after a consensus between his family and the government could not be reached on how he should be mourned and interred.
In a Facebook post, Miti suggested that the empty grave dug in anticipation of Lungu’s burial be concreted, covered with glass and preserved with a plaque that reads: “Here should have lain the 6th President of Zambia – Edgar Chagwa Lungu.”
Miti believes the now vacant burial site could serve as a peculiar but powerful symbol of history and a physical reminder of a funeral that never happened.
“People can visit it while visiting other presidential graves. Win, win, the family keeps the body away like they want and we mark the death of the 6th President with a site,” wrote Miti.
“You know how they say history is created while you are doing other stuff. I think this whole President Lungu burial matter is a historical fact that will be spoken about by posterity. We probably should give our descendants something concrete to remember one of the craziest times in our history.”
By Catherine Pule
Picture credit: The Mole
Kalemba, June 21, 2025
