Family Bars Hichilema From Lungu’s Funeral: “Not Wanted Anywhere Near Body”
Zambia’s late former President Edgar Lungu left strict instructions that President Hakainde Hichilema “should not be anywhere near” his body, according to his family.
This was revealed by the family’s spokesperson, lawyer Makebi Zulu, who said the wishes of the deceased must be respected.
Speaking in a video released from South Africa on 12 June 2025, Mr Zulu said:
“At the said meetings between government and the family, it was made known that the family had already put in place all logistics to address the wishes of the deceased… and that President Hakainde Hichilema should not be anywhere near the body of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for reasons that become common cause.”
The 68-year-old ex-president died on 5 June in South Africa. His body has not yet been repatriated due to an ongoing dispute between his family and the government over funeral arrangements.
Funeral dispute shakes the nation
The Zambian government had planned a state funeral for Lungu. However, his family insists on conducting a private ceremony, in accordance with the late leader’s final wishes.
Mr Zulu added that the family had become frustrated with the government’s shifting stance:
“The family finds it difficult to continue engaging with the Government, which has preset conditions that suggest that the family has no say in fundamental issues relating to the manner the deceased is to be mourned.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who led a delegation to South Africa, responded by urging unity and respect.
Speaking to local journalists in Lusaka, Mr Haimbe said:
“While the family’s wishes are noted, President Lungu was a leader of all Zambians. I’m sure all of us would want to have a fitting send-off.”
‘Matters of conscience’, not politics
The family has denied that its stance is politically motivated. According to Mr Zulu, their position is rooted in deeply held beliefs and instructions left by the late president.
He explained:
“Matters of conscience for both the deceased and the family should not be sacrificed at the altar of convenience.”
In a statement posted on Facebook by GrindStone Television Zambia on 12 June, the family further appealed for public understanding and stated that Lungu’s final wishes must be honoured.
“The family emphasized that their position is not political but rather a matter of conscience and fidelity to the former president’s final instructions.”
Mr Zulu also said that the family would keep the public informed of any changes:
“The family will continue to inform the public of any alternative arrangements.”
Public mourning descends into confusion
The dispute has caused widespread confusion in Zambia, where official mourning was declared for seven days starting on Saturday 7 June 2025.
However, the Patriotic Front (PF) party, which Lungu led, had already announced its own mourning programme a day earlier.
The government selected a lodge in Lusaka as the official venue for mourners, while the PF directed supporters to gather at its headquarters instead.
Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa told the BBC that the ongoing tug-of-war highlighted the need for legislation to govern funeral procedures for heads of state.
Mr Sangwa said:
“This tug-of-war only highlights the need for a clear law outlining how ex-presidents should be mourned.”
Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth Republican President from 2015 to 2021. He briefly stepped away from politics after losing to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, but later returned as a key figure in the opposition Patriotic Front before being barred by the Constitutional Court from running again.
As the stand-off continues, it remains unclear when or how Lungu’s body will be returned to Zambia.
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The post Zambia’s Hichilema “Not Wanted Anywhere Near Body” Of Ex-President Edgar Lungu – Family appeared first on iHarare News.
