By Dora Siliya
@Nation in Mourning
THE PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE ON
‘The government of the people, for the people, and by the people’. That is democracy.
The people’s power is expended through an elected executive (president and ministers), legislature (MPs) and the Judiciary, which even though unelected in Zambia, in some jurisdictions, lower court judges are elected to ensure the people’s will.
The government is the people’s will.
It is presided over by a president and managed by the civil service. We don’t have to like them, but this is the system we have agreed upon as a people with it’s unique, and very specific traditions to Zambia.
This is why the ECL funeral shenanigans are about the people versus the family – not HH.
Unfortunately, the debate has been reduced to two men, who are both privileged to have been bestowed by the people of Zambia, the honour to head the people’s affairs through their government. But not even death, as is usually the custom, has resolved their differences.
Instead, we have seen an elevated sense of superstition and mistrust.
HH and ECL’s personal differences appear now to be inheritated by many- and getting in the way of observing traditions, the same traditions the people of Zambia have bestowed upon themselves, and upon those, they give the honour to run their affairs. This honour extends to their families as well.
The cornerstone of this privilege to serve the people is to respect institutions and their traditions because they represent the people’s will. And they say the people’s voice is God’s voice.
But as I mentioned yesterday, positions are so entrenched even now that it is difficult to appreciate the impasse as being about the people of Zambia.
How can such divisions represent the wishes of a man portrayed as kind and who loved all Zambians? That a church service at the airport, a military tradition, could delay repatriation of the remains of our president? Besides, ECL attended so many churches.
Even if it was not agreed upon, could discussions not continue here? Are we not putting South Africa, a country with diplomatic relations with the people of Zambia, in an embarrassing position? I dont know the answer to all this.
What is clear is that political egos have taken over this funeral and have reduced a whole nation to drama with everyone glued to see what next. There is too much hope on what could happen at next year’s election and not what the people need now.
The nation needs to move on.
There are no winners here. And for the family, theirs is the greatest loss, now and forever.
Many young people have lost a lot of income due to a ban on entertainment activities during this national mourning. This also extends to many organisations whose businesses require constant entertainment activities for marketing purposes. Considering the liquidity situation, it is in the interest of the people for the nation to get back to normal.
We are not an island. It is also important that in the eyes of our neighbours, we are not seen as taking courtesies extended to ECL’s family for granted. They are based on the people of Zambia’s will.
If the family does not wish the state, as presented by the people’s government, to participate in honouring a man upon whom they bestowed the honour to manage their affairs, it may be time to move on.
Zambians will remember who stood with them in this very difficult time. Let them be the judges.
I urge the people of Zambia through their government to let the family take over the funeral arrangements.
Remember to be kind always and remain blessed.
A lot of wisdom from our former minister of information. agree with you totally.
Zelu zamveka
Here are some Questions for Dr Siliya
1. Was there a church service at the Airport when the remains of Levy Mwanawasa were brought to Zambia?
NO.
2. Was there a Church Service at the Airport when Michael Sata’s remains were brought to Zambia?
NO
3. Where people restricted to receive the remains of Either Levy Mwanawasa or Michael Sata at KKIA? And told To just watch the receiving of the remains on TV.
NO.
We know the modus Operandi of the MAN. He is a see through.
The MAN doesn’t want multitudes to turn up at KKIA to receive the remains of ECL..not even friends of the late, or Party Comrades. The Airport should be under lockdown..only the ZNBC, Times of Zambia, Daily Mail Vuvuzelas …and known Cheer Leaders will be invited to the Airport.
The man doesn’t want the planned Church Service at the show grounds scheduled for 23rd June 2025 to be presided over by Catholic Church Arch Bishop Dr Alick Banda.
So he has created his own church service at the Airport to be presided over by unknown Pastors , which wasn’t part of the agreement.
And instead of taking the remains to ECL’s home, the MAN now wants the remains to straight away go to Mulungushi Conference Center which wasn’t part of the agreement.
Don’t think Zambians are Dull . We are able to see what’s going on.
The MAN wants the remains to be in his pocket…for him and him alone. To reap and to rip off. Imingalato always.
The family is on firm grounds. Thank you.
Zambia old saint you are offside with what you have written.Show me were state house issued all your useless questions.
@ lizard monitor
Dr Siliya is talking about Military Tradition…that’s the context. If it is a military tradition to hold Church Services at Airports why was it not done for Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. If it was an ommision with the past Presidents, why was this not discussed with the family in South Africa?
Kindly read the Secretary to the Cabinet’s statement dated 17th June , 2025.
The government is moving away from what was agreed in South Africa. I humbly submit.
Well said…
@the author of the article.
@ lizard monitor
Dr Siliya is talking from the context of Military TRADITION ..and the heading is highlighting TRADITION.
If indeed it is a Military Tradition to hold Church Services at Airports, why was this not done for Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata? If it was an omission with the past Presidents, why was this not communicated to the family in South Africa? This was an ambush which departed from what was agreed.
The family also talked about the detour of the remains to Mulungushi Conference Center which again wasn’t agreed. From the Airport, the remains were to go to ECL’S home.
Further there was no debriefing of family at funeral house on arrangements concerning the burial program, even hours before the coming of the remains.
On the situation at KKIA Kindly read the statement from the Secretary to the Cabinet dated 17th June, 2025. It is very clear about the restrictions on people to be at the Airport to receive ECL’s remains.
The government was clearly and vividly moving away from what was agreed in South Africa.
So who is at fault in this whole thing?
The government is not being sincere. It’s like it was agreeing to a program in South Africa, while at the same time doing a plan B . I humbly submit.
Agreed. Let them hold a private funeral wherever and allow us move on now. Jesus said let the dead bury themselves.
Just check again, the church service and military tradition are separated by a , meaning it’s not one thing. But her question is can those two activities be the issue to warranty the cancellation?
Things do not have to be exactly how it happened in the past. This family can give an excuse even on the Vehicle that are going to be used. So in short they want the full inventory of all accessories eishi, this is now fishy it’s no longer just the remains of ECL being negotiated here