State Handling of Late President Lungu’s Funeral Risks Escalating Tensions
By Chinkuli Liteta
During a meeting between the family of the late President Edgar Lungu and Zambian government representatives in South Africa following his passing, it was agreed—and publicly announced—that the family would hand over his remains to the state upon their return to Zambia on Wednesday. The matter was settled.
However, the government is now insisting on controlling the transportation arrangements, despite President Lungu having travelled to South Africa without state support, lived there for months under family and well-wishers’ care, and ultimately passed away without state assistance. Given these circumstances, why should the same family and supporters not be allowed to bring his remains home, after which official state funeral proceedings would begin upon arrival in Zambia?
As commentator Laura Miti rightly noted, the government’s handling of this sensitive situation will determine whether the funeral proceeds peacefully or descends into chaos. At present, it is the state’s unnecessary interference and political maneuvering that risk provoking unrest. The Lungu family and his supporters are not only grieving but also angered by the circumstances surrounding his death—particularly the repeated denial of his requests to travel for medical treatment in South Africa, where his doctors were managing his condition.
What is the harm in the state simply receiving his body at the airport in Zambia, just as they would have done had he passed away at home under family care? Instead, certain bloggers and political figures are fixated on pressuring the family to relinquish control of his remains in a foreign country—a country he traveled to at his own expense after being systematically denied medical access by the state.
This insistence on state involvement now appears hypocritical, especially given the government’s prior refusal to allow Lungu to seek treatment abroad—even when he was willing to cover the costs himself. There is a clear attempt to downplay the state’s role in worsening his health by obstructing his medical travel. The hypocrisy is staggering.
The state’s actions reek of damage control—an effort to preempt criticism over its petty and vindictive treatment of Lungu in his final days. This is not about politics; it is about basic humanity. Lungu was only able to travel for treatment when the UN Human Rights Rapporteur was in Zambia, having been blocked on previous attempts.
Now that he is gone, his supporters and loved ones have every right to voice these painful truths, no matter how inconvenient they may be for those seeking to preserve the state’s image. If tensions arise during the funeral, the blame will lie squarely with the government’s refusal to acknowledge its failures and its heavy-handed approach to the proceedings.
Moreover, the state’s recent interference in Patriotic Front (PF) leadership—reportedly to install a preferred successor—raises further concerns. If figures like Chabinga are imposed on the funeral program against the family’s wishes, it will only be seen as another provocation.
The undeniable fact remains: the state denied Lungu medical care, offered no support in his final days, and now seeks to control his funeral. In this time of mourning, the grieving must be allowed to express their sorrow—and their anger—without suppression. The government’s actions will determine whether this period is one of dignified remembrance or unnecessary strife.
John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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