EFZ counsels Government, ECL family to expeditiously arrive at an amicable decision

EFZ counsels Government, ECL family to expeditiously arrive at an amicable decision

Lusaka, June, 12 – We have followed developments of a standoff between the Government and family of the late sixth Republican President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu regarding plans to repatriate his remains with great concern.

We are compelled by the moral authority of the Church to call for calm and advise both parties to expeditiously arrive at a unifying decision that is in the interest of national peace.

While we acknowledge that by tradition, the family is the legal custodian of the deceased’s body and all cultural rites, we appeal for dialogue that respects and allows the State to play the symbolic honour that is due to a departed former Head of State.

As many have said, there is no constitutional or statutory provision overriding the family’s authority on funeral arrangements for any former Head of State.

However, in the spirit of co-existence, the Government should play a facilitatory role to honour wishes of the family while according the late former Head of State his deserved military honours.

Members of the public may wish to know that the State has legitimate public interest to honour a former Head of State as his leadership and legacy is part of Zambia’s national history and identity.

Therefore, parties should remember that the citizens must be given an opportunity to participate in collective mourning of a man they called their President for 7 years.

Both the family and the Government have an inescapable duty to honour the memories of our departed leader by doing everything possibe to promote and preserve national unity during this difficult moment of national mourning.

Issued by:
Bishop Andrew Mwenda
Executive Director
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia