Our help was rejected – Government
GOVERNMENT has clarified that contrary to the claims by former president Edgar Lungu’s family that the government had abandoned the former president when he was sick, it had actually offered to help but the family turned down the support.
Addressing the media this morning, Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa clarified that the government officially granted passage for Lungu to go to South Africa for treatment and even offered help but it was turned down by the family.
He said when the former president’s personal doctor Professor Njovu, informed government that Lungu needed to travel for medical attention, the government started preparing for his expenses and even called for discussions with the Ministry of Health.
But after the family was informed of the arrangements, the family, through Prof. Njovu, responded to the government that the former president would cover his traveling and medical bills.
He said the traveling of the former president to South Africa was with the full knowledge of the government and no officer was ordered to stand in the way of his passage.
“I wish to put it on record that Professor Njovu, the official doctor of the late president, wrote to me as s
Secretary to the Cabinet, informing us of the plane travel. I responded that as a citizen of Zambia, the government provides support, as long as treatment is outside the country and I offered that we get Dr Njovu and our Ministry of Health permanent secretary to discuss so that we could support the sixth president in his passage to South Africa.”
“However, it is on record, Professor Njovu wrote back to me, advising me that this was for my information and not for any support. So the passage was with the full knowledge of the government and no officer was given any instructions to stand in the way of the going of the president,” stated Kangwa.
The Secretary to the Cabinet added that further efforts were made to support the former president while he was in South Africa but nothing could work.
“Secondly, efforts were made to support the president while he was in South Africa, however, with the history and the relationships, this did not come to pass,” clarified Kangwa.
Meanwhile, Kangwa announced that President Hakainde Hichilema will preside over the State Funeral of the former president, which will take place next Sunday at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
He revealed that the government had, therefore, extended the national mourning period from today to Monday next week when Lungu will be buried.
“Allow me to thank the people who supported the process, former vice president Enock Kavindele, former secretary to the Cabinet, Leslie Mbula, Chief Mumbi of Petauke and Makebi Zulu.”
“Government thanks the government of South Africa for facilitating the medical care and repatriation process and the Zambian diplomatic mission in South Africa. Special gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for leading the way to the negotiations. Let us come together as one Zambia, one nation,” said Kangwa.
And family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu disclosed that government has agreed to honor late president Lungu’s wish that his body should lie in state at his house in Chifwema throughout the mourning period.
Zulu said the government had agreed to allow Lungu’s remains be transported together with the family from South Africa to Zambia on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 using a private charter made available by well wishers.
Following the arrival and receipt of the body by family members in Lusaka, full military honors will be conducted at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport after which the body will be taken to the funeral house in Chifwema to lie in state.
“The body will be taken to Mulungushi International Conference Centre on June 19, 20 and 21 to enable members of the public to pay their last respects from 09:00 hours to 16:00 hours after which it shall be returned to his house to lie in state.”
“The valedictory session will be held at the Supreme Court grounds in honor of the former president, who was a lawyer by profession, on Monday, June 23, to be followed by a church service in the show grounds that will be conducted by His Grace Archbishop Bishop Alick Banda as requested by Edgar Lungu,” Zulu said.
He was speaking at a joint press briefing between the government and the family in South Africa today.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba, June 15, 2025
SHAME ON YOU, PF,
SHAME on You all the propagandists
Who told the Whole World, lies and innuendos, about Government not supporting and helping, LUNGU
No wonder they say , Lies have Short Legs,,
What are you going to tell , the Nation now that the Truth has, been revealed
Hippocrites, Shame on you,
YOUR Excellence
President, H H, , I salute you Sir,
By your Cool, composure & Calmness,in the midst of a Storm,
You have demonstrated, a very rare Kind of statemanship, during a very trying moment in our Nation
No wonder,God , in his wisdom and mercy, raised you, to Preside over the rulership of our Nation, at a very trying time, such as now.
Never mind Sir, whatever mud is thrown at you, God will always be with you,
And to all , who have demanded an Apology from HH & UPND, Government?
We, as well meaning Citizens of our country,are instead, demanding an Apology from You all Hippocrites
For all your lies , and innuendos you told this Nation
Its sad that Makebi Zulu would lie to the country to further divisiveness and falshoods.
Its sych a pathetic way to operate as Profession what Patrick Kangwa states was in the public domain, when ECL left to go for trearment. Until we begin to hold people accountable for their actions. Individuals will not only embarass the nation, their profession and their clients. Makebi needed to advise the family that the statement was misleading IF they insisted that the statement be uttered. To gloss over such conduct is what Kabimba alludes to in his interview as allowing “hooliganism” that we saw not “nipped in the bud”.
That hooliganism is what we see being being allowed to resurge in PF. And Given Lubinda needs to correct that. His own utterances and those of Nakachinda are such a disappointment.
You can not expect any better in an organisation if your only basis for attention is to tell lies. Mislead Zambians and at worst slander.
Zambians deserve better.
Indeed. A lesson that we should always be careful with our mouths. Think, observe, listen, and conclude with the correct information before announcing anything. The repercussions of such always ends up in confusion and mayhem, which can lead to explosive, unnecessary and even fatal violence.
Makabi was a family spokesperson, not an advisor. You should not kill the messenger; kill the message
I never at any one time hear Patrick Kangwa say “the family declined” government support for the ailing late President. He merely stated “this did not come to pass” in response to the offer of support and arrangements that were made. Stop.misleading readers!!!
Chagwa must be rotting by now.
Just like PF, Tonse, UKA
No please, let’s exercise decency in such times.
Buckteeth Lungu please!Aaah?
This statement goes straight to the gullible praise singers belonging belonging to the cow republic.
The government blocked ECL from travelling. How then was he supposed to use your medical expense help when all you did was to block him from accessing the medical facilities that managed his condition?.
Panyo pako.How many times are you going to talk about the same issue. Government never denied ba Lungu to go out, it’s just a fabricated storis to tarnish the name of the current government