PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has charged that former president Edgar Lungu should by all means be buried in Zambia with full honours and not in any other nation.
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President Hichilema explained that this is because Lungu was not an ordinary person but the country’s former Head of State who not only belonged to his family but also to the nation of Zambia.
The President said this last evening during a televised national address after terminating the national mourning in hounour of Lungu.
“Mr Lungu was not only an ordinary citizen, but our 6th Republican President. While we recognise that he belongs to a family, he also belongs to the nation of Zambia. It is therefore correct that our sixth Republican President should be buried in Zambia with full honours, and not in any other nation,” charged the Head of State.
“Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning. We have done everything possible to engage the family of our departed sixth Republican President, and we have reached a point where a clear decision has to be made.”
Lungu died on June 5 in a South African hospital and despite earlier agreements between government and the family to repatriate the body for a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park on June 23, those plans collapsed at the last minute.
Since then, his body has remained in that country due to a breakdown in agreement between government and Lungu’s family over funeral and burial plans.
This marks the first time in Zambia’s history that a national mourning period has ended without the body of the deceased being repatriated or buried.
Initially, government declared a seven day national mourning period, later extended by nine more days after government and the family reached an apparent consensus in Pretoria on June 15.
At the time, it was agreed that Lungu’s remains would be flown to Lusaka on June 18, followed by a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park on June 23.
However, that plan unraveled on the very day of the expected arrival.
Government officials, the military and mourners were prepared at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to receive the body of the former president but the casket never arrived.
Zambians were left stunned on that day when the anticipated arrival of Lungu’s remains at the airport did not happen.
President Hichilema disclosed that the South African government, at Zambia’s request had made full military preparations to receive Lungu’s body but those efforts were frustrated when the family reversed course.
“For this unfortunate situation, we extend our sincere apologies to President Ramaphosa, the Government and the people of South Africa,” he said.
The Head of State also thanked the church, traditional leaders, former vice president Enock Kavindele, Chief Mumbi, Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe, the Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa and other stakeholders who had worked tirelessly to bridge the impasse between government and Lungu’s family.
He further saluted the Zambians for what he termed “resilience, patience, solidarity and calmness” during what has been an emotionally charged and unprecedented two weeks of mourning.
“Given these circumstances, I therefore wish to inform the nation, that as of the end of today the 19th of June 2025, this particular national mourning period is officially over. This will allow the country to begin to return to some normalcy,” said President Hichilema.
The President reiterated government’s commitment to giving Lungu a dignified farewell, saying the doors remain open for further engagement with the family.
He also warned against any acts of lawlessness during this sensitive time and called for national unity and calm.
“In the meantime, we urge our citizens to maintain calm and orderliness. As we have stated before, during this difficult time, no amount of lawlessness will be tolerated. Let us remain united as a nation and maintain the peace we are known for.”
“In this spirit, we say to the Lungu family, and indeed the people of Zambia, our hearts remain with you. Our doors, as Government, remain open for further engagement, as appropriate. May the soul of our departed former republican president, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, rest in eternal peace,” said President Hichilema.
Lungu’s burial remains uncertain, with the family yet to issue a statement on their next steps as Lungu was not just theirs but the country’s too.
And the President’s stance is that Zambia is where Lungu should be laid to rest.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, June 20, 2025
