DESPITE President Hakainde Hichilema emphasising that his predecessor former president Edgar Lungu should by all means be buried in Zambia, the former first family have decided to go against the State by announcing that the former president will be buried in a foreign country, South Africa.
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In a statement, family spokesperson Makebi Zulu said the decision to bury Lungu in Johannesburg follows the family’s desire for a private ceremony.
This comes after President Hakainde Hichilema called off the national mourning 14 days after the death of Lungu yesterday after the family decided to play hide and seek with the remains of the former Head of State on two occasions
Last evening, President Hichilema charged that the burial of Lungu in the country was important 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.
But the family claimed that the South African government had allowed them to bury the former president in that country.
“We would especially like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for their respectful support and for honouring the family’s decision to hold a private funeral and burial here in South Africa,” said Zulu.
“Your non-interference and respect of the South African Constitution and rights of the family and the desire of the family is commendable and will give space to mourn and celebrate the life of our loved Edgar Chagwa Lungu in dignity and peace.”
He said this period had been deeply emotional for the family and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences extended to the family from across the continent and the globe.
The family also expressed gratitude to the South African government for what they described as “respectful support” and for allowing them space to mourn without interference.
The statement commended South Africa’s constitutional respect for the family’s decision, saying it would allow for a peaceful and dignified farewell for the late former president.
Particular appreciation was extended to South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, who visited the family to deliver a message of condolence on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The family called for peace and unity among Zambians during the time of mourning and thanked the public for their understanding and support.
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.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, June 20, 2025
