GOVERNMENT has refuted allegations that President Hakainde Hichilema prematurely ended the national mourning period for the late former president Edgar Lungu.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15pq5cX9se/?mibextid=oFDknk
State House chief communications specialist, Clayson Hamasaka clarified that the mourning period was, in fact, extended beyond its constitutional mandate to accommodate the Lungu family’s wishes.
In a statement released via Facebook, Hamasaka addressed misrepresentation of the facts circulating in some media outlets and political circles.
He stated that It was deceiving to allege that President Hakainde Hichilema curtailed late president Lungu’s national mourning.
“We have noted with concern that some media platforms are falsely alleging that Republican President Hakainde Hichilema has “abruptly cancelled the national mourning period for the late President Edgar Lungu.”
“This is a misrepresentation of the facts,” he said
Hamasaka explained that while the standard period for national mourning for a former Head of State is constitutionally set at seven days, President Hichilema exercised his discretion to extend it to a fortnight.
This extension, he stated, was granted to facilitate logistical arrangements and other personal matters for the Lungu family.
“In this case, the President exercised his discretion and goodwill to extend that period beyond the statutory timeframe,” Hamasaka wrote.
The clarification comes amidst reports that President Hichilema ended the national mourning on Thursday after the Lungu family reportedly declined to repatriate the body from South Africa to Zambia on Wednesday, as had previously been agreed.
Lungu passed away on June 5, 2025, due to complications following surgery in South Africa and his family announced that they are going to bury him in that country.
Kalemba June 21, 2025.
