ECL’s Family Demands the Late Former President’s Body Lie in State at His Residence – Emmanuel Mwamba
The family of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has demanded that his body lie in state at his residence, that church services be held in Ndola, Petauke, and Lusaka, and that they be consulted on the list of speakers a set of conditions that has reportedly led to a suspension of funeral and repatriation talks with the government.
This was revealed by Patriotic Front (PF) Information and Publicity Chairperson Emmanuel Mwamba in a Facebook post.
He stated that following several meetings between the family and government delegations initially led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe and later by Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa but that no agreement was reached.
According to Mr. Mwamba, the family further insists that Mr. Lungu, who travelled as a private citizen, should be returned as such, with the state only taking charge of the body upon arrival at either Kenneth Kaunda International Airport or Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, depending on what is agreed.
He disclosed that tensions rose after the family objected to the presence of some government officials during the meetings, which further contributed to the impasse.
Mr. Mwamba reports that the government, on its part, has maintained that the body must be repatriated to Lusaka immediately and that the state should assume full responsibility from the undertaker in South Africa through to Zambia.
He added that while officials indicated the family’s requests would be taken into account, they would not be automatically accepted.
As of now, neither the government nor the family has issued an official statement confirming or denying these developments.
President HH, listen to me. These people are trying very hard to draw you into this issue. You have done very well so far to let them continue exposing themselves. Lungu is not the first former head of state to die. Why this chaos over his corpse? HH withdraw the government delegation from SA and let them alone. Some of them are just enjoying being in SA, they can’t even stay this long on their own. Sir just let the nation move on and see what they will do. Whether or not they like it they will burry Lungu. The man is gone. As citizens we are now on the edge.
Mwamba shouldn’t have written this bad article. Why should the remains of ECL lie in state at his residence when there are so many good mortuaries in Lusaka. What’s the significance of having these remains at his residence? Mwamba stop it? What are we supposed to think, that the remains may be carrying money which they want to conveniently offload in the house? Or that there’s supposed to be ritual to be performed? Mwamba, Mwamba this article is in bad taste . Use discretion before you write senseless articles like this one. You are indirectly incriminating the ECL FAMILY.
A state funeral is just. The government infrastructure and management or organization is state.No home management.That is not right. With what intent?