Two weeks after the death of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, his body remains in South Africa, caught in a deepening tug-of-war between his family and the Zambian government that has stalled his repatriation and plunged the nation into confusion and grief.
Lungu, 68, passed away on June 5 at a Pretoria hospital after undergoing surgery for a rare esophageal condition. But instead of a unified national tribute, the aftermath has been marred by political drama. The late president’s family, backed by the opposition Patriotic Front (PF), accuses President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration of trying to hijack funeral plans in defiance of Lungu’s personal wishes—including his reported desire to exclude Hichilema from the proceedings entirely.
At the heart of the dispute is a series of government-led actions that the family claims were taken without consent—unauthorized flight plans, funeral programs, and public arrangements. PF spokesperson Makebi Zulu canceled the planned return of Lungu’s body on June 18, alleging that the government had veered from the agreed protocols. “We want his wishes honored,” Zulu stated, underscoring the emotional and political weight of the conflict.
An attempt at compromise briefly surfaced on June 15, brokered by Catholic Archbishop Alick Banda. A temporary deal included provisions for a private charter and a formal state funeral set for June 22. Yet even this fragile agreement collapsed, with the family once again halting preparations—leaving the nation suspended between two mourning camps.
Zambians have been left bewildered, mourning their former leader amid clashing instructions from the PF and the state. While the government designated a state lodge as the official venue for condolences, the PF encouraged supporters to gather at their party headquarters, highlighting the depth of division.
Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe has called for unity, stressing that Lungu’s legacy belongs to all Zambians, not just a political faction. Still, with no repatriation date in sight and a 16-day official mourning period underway, Edgar Lungu’s final journey home remains trapped in limbo—symbolizing a country still struggling to reconcile its political fractures.
