A Humble and Compassionate Appeal to Mama Esther Lungu and the Lungu Family
Dear Mama Esther Lungu and the entire family of our late Sixth Republican President, His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu,
I write this appeal with a heavy heart, with respect for your family, and with full recognition of the extraordinary pain you have endured since the passing of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Mama Esther, before President Lungu belonged to the nation, he was your husband, the father of your children and a member of your family. No political office can take away that sacred relationship. Your grief deserves dignity, privacy and respect.
The events that followed his passing have undoubtedly added another burden to a family that was already mourning. A funeral should ordinarily be a time when people put aside their differences, comfort the bereaved and honour the life of the departed. Unfortunately, President Lungu’s burial became surrounded by disagreement, court proceedings and political controversy.
Now that the legal dispute has reached its conclusion, I humbly appeal to you, Mama Esther, and to the entire Lungu family to prayerfully consider whether the time may have come to bring our former President home to Zambia and allow him to finally rest in the land of his birth and the nation he once led.
I make this appeal not because the family has lost its rights. On the contrary, the family’s rights and authority concerning his burial should be respected.
Neither should bringing him home be interpreted as surrendering to anyone politically.
It could instead become an extraordinary act of grace, strength and national healing.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu was not only a politician. He became the Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia and therefore became part of the history of our nation. Millions of Zambians, including those who supported him, opposed him or simply respected the office he held, may wish to see this painful chapter brought to a peaceful and dignified conclusion.
Mama Esther, I therefore respectfully appeal that discussions be considered under conditions that fully respect the dignity and wishes of the family.
The family should be able to determine the character of the funeral, participate fully in all decisions, and receive clear assurances that the burial will never become an occasion for political triumphalism, humiliation or confrontation.
If necessary, respected Church leaders, traditional leaders and other neutral national elders could facilitate dialogue so that the family and relevant authorities do not have to approach one another through political confrontation.
Scripture reminds us:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9
There comes a moment when even after great hurt, somebody must open a door through which reconciliation can begin.
Mama Esther and the Lungu family, perhaps history has now placed that difficult opportunity before you.
Should you decide to bring President Edgar Chagwa Lungu home, let Zambia receive him not as the property of a political party or government, but as a former Head of State and a son of Zambia returning home for his final rest.
And I equally appeal to the Government of the Republic of Zambia: should the family open that door, meet them with humility. There should be no political conditions, no triumphalism and no attempt to take away the family’s dignity. Any arrangement should be built upon mutual respect, written assurances, consultation and peace.
President Lungu has been gone for more than a year. The disagreements of the living should not continue indefinitely around the remains of the departed.
Let the family find comfort.
Let President Lungu find his final resting place.
Let Zambia find closure.
And perhaps, through this painful chapter, let our nation begin finding its way back to reconciliation.
With profound respect and Christian compassion,
Rev. Dr. Kelvin Mugala
Clergy and Advocate for Good Governance & Constitutional Rights