BRING BACK LUNGU’S BODY, HICHILEMA SHOULDN’T ATTEND FUNERAL, LET DELEGATE – FR CHIKOYA
THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has called for the repatriation of the remains of late former President Edgar Lungu, urging both the State and the bereaved family to put aside their differences for the sake of national unity.
Featuring on RCV News’ Chatback this afternoon, CCZ General Secretary Fr Emmanuel Chikoya said if the only way to bring the late president’s remains back home is by having someone other than President Hakainde Hichilema preside over the funeral, then so be it.
Fr Chikoya suggested that if the presence of the sitting President at the funeral was a sticking point for the family, government could consider delegating the responsibility to another official such as the Vice President.
The priest revealed that while the whole matter may seem awkward and even uncomfortable to the political class, the church believes in doing the unusual if it leads to peace and healing for the nation.
He further added that such a move should not be viewed as a loss or weakness, but rather as a show of leadership and maturity for the sake of peace and unity.
“For me, it would be a better devil than to have him buried out of the country,” Fr Chikoya said bluntly, referring to the growing fear that Lungu’s body may not return to Zambia for burial due to unresolved tensions between the State and the late president’s family.
The CCZ leader also noted that not every relative of the late president can afford the cost of flying abroad for memorial services, a burden that would only deepen the pain of an already grieving family.
He called on both government and the Lungu family to stop being rigid and to make sacrifices where necessary, stressing that some battles are better postponed for the sake of national unity.
As the impasse drags on, the CCZ says the church stands ready to mediate and encourage dialogue, but only if all parties are willing to prioritise the greater good over personal victories.
By George Musonda
Kalemba
Good suggestion Fr Chiko
Father, your concerns are duly noted, and you mean well. However, let us respect the wishes of the family right now, otherwise our beloved ECL will not rest in peace. There are evil forces working overtime here, so let us keep them at bay. Not everyone is a Christian, others are indeed Freemason members. They dine with evil spirits, and they insult our national day of prayers.
DO NOT ALLOW HAKAINDE ANYWHERE NEAR ECL’S BODY. BURY ECL RIGHT NOW IN RSA. DO NOT TRUST HAKAINDE AND HIS SANGOMAS.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Indigo is crying buckets, this chikala is crying everywhere he can to get sympathy. Lungu the corrupt is dead and rotting like the chikala he was and just like you indigo……..bunch of Baboon’s
Lungu is dead, lungu is dead let’s do reverse dununa now
Kikikiki
Were the wishes of the late KK honoured by pf?
Were the wishes of the late first Republican President’s family honoured by the PF government? Did Sata stay away from the funeral of the late Mwanawasa after being barred by the late Maureen Mwanawasa? If the answer is yes, then HH must not attend.
Man of God much as you are concerned, but I realize that you don’t know the reality of the intelligentias and objectives of the whole fracas. Man of God, I hope you have been following the utterances and writings that the opposition persons have been casting ever since HH took office. Only bitterness, hatred, wishes of early election etc have been displayed. Man of God, do you realize that the same quakes, are have played an evil game in the life of ECL? Man of God, do you know that the same buffoons, who have led the nation into this disgrace, were just parasites on ECL? Man of God , do you know that the same buffoons just canningly coarxed and persuaded ECL to leave his retirement quietly life and go back into active politics so that the buffoons could continue syphoning ECL ‘s money. Man of God, are aware that the same political cartel did put up a scheme to use the funeral, especially ECL family to champion their political mileage and disgrace HH? Man of God, how many have you counseled and guided to do away with their initial evil intentions? Man of God, with your honesty and righteous conscience, do you think the Lungu family members are so evil and I n corrigible that they can not get the counsel and guidance under traditional, spiritual and political norms, void of influencers?
It’s too late ba Father Chikoya..
We are waiting for the burial in South Africa.
A clear Agreement was made on 14th June, 2025 which was even availed to the public. The government started shifting goal posts as we were getting closer to 18th June 2025, the date the remains were supposed to come to Zambia.
The Agreement was turned on its Head by the Government.
Have you not wondered why former Vice President Kavindele and Former Secretary to Cabinet Leslie Mbula have become quiet? Even Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa ( rumoured to have resigned at one point) ? These are the ones who were in South Africa.
They know the person who bungled up the Agreement.
It’s the Mingalatoon – A person who believes in Imingalato, even at Funerals. He says one thing in public, and does another thing in private. For him ECL’s remains were to be in his pocket to Reap and to Rip off..To abuse in Life and in death. That’s the ‘dignity ‘ he believes in.
And if the family was to agree to bring the remains at this hour, he will do the same thing again. That’s who he is. An Unrepentant Mingalatoon.
The family has suffered so much. Let them put to rest our departed late President in South Africa, away from useless Imingalato, Hypocrisy, Dishonesty, Untruths and Insincerity.
And away from Crocodile Tears.
At an Opportune time, the remains will be brought back to Zambia.
We await the South Africa Burial Program.
Please let them burry in South Africa, we have no problem with it. It’s their choice to do so and the country should not beg them for a privilege the country want to accord the former president. If we start bending to people’s demands, what will stop others from demanding something else, meaning yeilding to such demands opens a door we may like in the future. And its supprising that a priest is agreeing to such an absurd demand instead of encouraging the family to learn forgiveness even if someone offended them. I’m sure the late offended poeple as well, so will it alright to this priest for those injured not to forgive him as well? What kind of christians do we have now want to accept abnormality as normal No wonder this country has lost it’s morals because we don’t have leaders in church who stand for the principles of Christianity just do what please people.
It is indeed baffling that Fr. Chikoya is suggesting that the government including the Head of State should accept absurd demands of Lungu’s family. Infact it is on record that this administration has bent backwards in trying to give Lungu a funeral befitting a former President but has received unprecedented resistance from Lungu’s family.
Please let them burry in South Africa, we have no problem with it. It’s their choice to do so and the country should not beg them for a privilege the country want to accord the former president. If we start bending to people’s demands, what will stop others from demanding something else, meaning yeilding to such demands opens a door we not want opened and makes us vulnerable as a country. And its supprising that a priest is agreeing to such an absurd demand instead of encouraging the family to learn forgiveness even if someone offended them. I’m sure the late offended people as well, so will it be alright to this priest for those he injured not to forgive him as well? What kind of christians do we have now who want to accept abnormality as normal? No wonder this country has lost it’s morals because we don’t have leaders in church who stand for the principles of Christianity even if means offending people who may be in the wrong but the current crop of christian leaders just do what please people which is really shameful.
Simply burry there if that is what will make you happy.the same way you love ECL is the same way we love peace and our current leader.so don’t insult the crocodile before you safeguard your buttocks otherwise people will come seeking for our votes.i don’t know how you will repatriate ECL after ushering your so called new leadership because we are still keeping our voter’s card firmly.
These are pf aligned clergies. They condemned pf’s brutality, they talk about practicing Christianity when their own faces the law or when their own crosses the pass of govt. Double standards. You clergies you are the ones who are sowing the seeds of hatred and division. To you healing is about supporting and agreeing the propaganda and foolishness of the pf. Shame
Father chikoya should be known as father CHIKALA
Let them burry there. It’s unfathomable that we can allow belittling of a republican president just to satisfy wishes of a family
OMG! What is this nonsense of insulting every single day?? Very childish. GROW UP!!! Even to the extent of insulting Clergymen? And the dead?? It’s evil.
If the president is not wanted anywhere near Lungu’s coffin, how does he delegate? Delegation is just as good as attending in person and you only delegate when you can’t attend in person due to various reasons but unfortunately you can’t delegate at a function where you are not welcome or wanted. Jesus said that whoever has rejected me has rejected the one who sent me. So there is no way the family can reject HH and yet accept the person he will delegate to, it won’t make any sense. Let the family do it in whatever way they want to do it, you lose nothing by not attending a funeral. A person like HH is already used to such matters, is it not the same Lungu who stopped him from attending KK and Sara’s funerals and he lost nothing. Why should it be an issue now even if he doesn’t attend Lungu’s funeral? People should learn to put the country first.
With greatest respect to Fr. Chikoya, this is a total misdirection. The Head of State is also Commander in Chief and there is absolutely no justification for him not to preside over the military dignified send off of the late president ECL.
Please bury him in SA and let this be the end of PF thieves. This is just pointless.
The so called”Fr” Chikoya. I doubt you’re for Jesus. Most of you so, called frs are angels of the devil . You are supposed to be uniting people and not divide them. Lungu is not the first former president to die. Many have died what’s the matter here? God will judge you harshly for hiding behind the collar of priesthood and yet you are for Satana. Ati men of God? Shame on you. HH and the upnd government have done all that can be done, but you who are supposed to counsel the Lungu family, are in the forefront doing the opposite. What do you want Zambians to do? The bible says what is bound on earth is also bound in heaven. Let the remains of Lungu return to his land of birth. Most of you opposed to the returning of the body are fighting personal issues with the government using Lungu’s dead body. God will soon expose you.
It is a blessing in disguise, let them bury ECl, to avoid …… Started by…. who started warning indigenous citizens, ,” No one not in PF regalia, No one who was a member of the choirs that were singing at the state set site, No one not carrying any symbol of PF party, to be go near airport, mulungushi conference center or Fuwema house.’ What was his intention? Thanks that the drama was halted? That was job well done Mr Bally . You are wise!
This kapapa needs mental evaluation and counselling. Should the living be held hostage by the demonic demands of the unforgiving dead. Learn to analyze issues. Next time you will go to consult at the graveyard。Wizard of Engede syndrome is tormenting you
Enough is enough, let the PF fuction lead the burial in SA.They have convinced the family to do so.It is not normal for the head of state to watch a state funeral on television while the opposition PF fuction is presiding the funeral in our country.That can’t happen please.This fuction of PF can not be pleased to that extent they may get used.No one can let a wife to someone for a while because the chap can get used and fails to hand over the wife back to the owner.Let the funeral be conducted in SA it is Africa our continent.We can not allow our President be demoted when he is capable.They have failed to be flexable.The Kaunda family were flexable, the Chiluba family did allow burial even when they didn’t understand the sudden death of Chiluba where there was no history of illness.The Mwanawasa family were flexable they had the desire to burry at Teka farm, The Rupiah Banda family had the desire to burry in Chipata at his farm but understood the Zambian request.Patriotism is the answer.When you love your country you will bend to the demands of your people.We can’t blame ECL, but some people behind the scheme to undermine the country’s leadership.They have failed to do the right thing.They are frustrated and want to rest their frustration on the funeral of the former head of state to symbolize some power.The weakness of this PF fuction has been exposed.They can go to that extent surely.This is sad.The family will have to be counselled and the body shall have to rest here in Zambia the mother land.The UPND government will do that facilitation at a certain stage.In God we believe.