PF, Former First Family Opt for Private Funeral for Late President Lungu
The former First Family, led by former First Lady Madam Esther Lungu, in consultation with the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership under Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda, has resolved not to allow the State to take over the funeral proceedings of the late Sixth Republican President, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
The decision stems from concerns that the late President was, in their view, no longer accorded the dignity of a former Head of State, following the withdrawal of his presidential benefits and what the family describes as the alleged persecution of close family members.
In light of this, the family has communicated that the funeral will be treated as a private event. The PF Secretariat will serve as the official venue for public mourning, where mourners including PF members and Government officials, may gather to pay their respects.
The former President’s private residence will be reserved strictly for family members and high-level foreign dignitaries, who may wish to visit for the purpose of offering condolences to the former First Lady.
Additionally, the family has stated that President Lungu will not be buried at the Presidential Burial Site. Instead, arrangements are underway for a private burial at a location to be determined and organised by the family.
This development may clash with the law that stipulates that former Heads of State are accorded a State funeral and buried at the Presidential burial grounds. First President Kenneth Kaunda’s family had resolved that his remains be buried at his farm in Lusaka East. However they were sternly guided by the law which they finally succumbed to.
Why does PF like acting like children? The former president was and is still state “property” it’s not up to PF to decide on the funeral arrangements. If I may ask, are they going to handle security details for the dignitaries who will come from other ccountries for the funeral? Unfortunately, the family does not seem to realize that PF has been doing more harm to the family and ECL and they may have contributed to his early demise by enticing him to come back in to active politics for their own selfish gain. Can we please mourn the man in peace without these selfish politicians bringing in politics even at this sad time ?
ECL decided to forgo being a “State Property”. He chose to forgo the benefits of being a former head of state. He obviously must have spoke to family and close members about this. The State did not argue with his choice and the implemented the law as it applies. The question is does ECL now become a State Property because he is dead? A private funeral means there will be few friends and family members.
@Wandi Correct. And Mrs Esther Lungu should not cast aspiration and misrepresent facts.
Is it even possible after what PF did to Kaunda and going against the family wishes regarding the barisl site of KK. PF and Tonse sent Lungu to his death early. PF is incapable of any form of leadership, for them decision making is synonymous with arrogance, rhetoric and stupidity.
I think the keyword is “active” politics. So since is has passed on, I believe he is no longer in active politics so he reverts back to being a government “property” but lawyers should be in a better position to advise on this matter.
Yes, we shall need interpretation of the law instead of using emotions and common sense
Bitterness at it’s highest older from PF criminals all the time confrontations.Please do what you think will make you happy
That is state funeral period.
President Lungu can not be mourned privately because this is a big funeral that can not be managed privately or by family.He was the head of State and many states men and women from other countries will come to mourn with us Zambians and people must realize that he was not only the president for PF members only no, he was president for all Zambians.He must be mourned in a dignified order as a former commender in chief of the armed forces.The funeral of former Head of state can not be reduced to small funeral.A lot is involved ranging from transport logistics, lodging of diginatories and many more.In short don’t bring politics to state functions.The entity concept comes in.You separate the individual from the system operations.The government shall have to take over and do it’s obligation without interference though other consultations with family shall take place with due respect.That is the Zambian tradition.
Memorial park is for former presidents active or inactive in politics, PF themselves applied this law against the will of the family of the late former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, so what has changed now? is PF going to take the body round the country like what happened to Sata/Mwanawasa etc., using their resources, is PF going to provide logistics like accommodation, transport, security etc. to foreign dignitaries who will come to the funeral, do they have the capacity to provide those logistics?, the answer is no. the main problem is the mentality of a few within PF who want to make political capital over a bereavement like this one. ECL was misled by many of these people during his lifetime, they took advantage of him, and they want to continue to do so in death as well. The Family of ECL should try to take advice from sound minded people like the church and not those that want to use the funeral as a political springboard. This arrangement needs security which is well organized because of its magnitude, does PF have that security?. and town center itself is not the right place to hold a funeral of this magnitude, why did PF choose that location, only they themselves can tell the nation.
My advice is, as Tasila mentioned, for now, it must be one Zambia one Nation. Let’s all temporarily forget about differences and correctly so do what we must as a nation, as a people. During this time we must exercise maturity and balanced thought. Firstly, the former First Lady is in mourning, she must not be issuing statements, she must mourn the husband. PF must not start playing politics during this time, they are actually very disastrous at that. Well, if the family wants a private funeral, give it to them as long as they take care of all the costs, including security and others related to expenses of foreign dignitaries. What we can not change is that ECL was the six president. Whether or not he was a good one or not is another matter for discussion later. My advice to the family is that once you let PF poke their noises into this, there will be chaos. You well know them and how often they used to come to your home to bootlick for survival. To the ECL family, this is the time to demonstrate magnanimity and procedure. Don’t bring politics into death. The political anchor of your family is now gone. Lets mourn ECL in peace for now. Those that want to play politics can come back in the ring after this. Politics doesn’t end.
I sincerely pray Hakainde does not attend the funeral to shower us with crocodile tears. Let us mourn our fallen president in peace without any evil people present.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
This one is not a Zambia but one of the refuges who taking advantage of our kindness.Same na Muamba from Tanzania
HaIndigo Tyrol, please don’t misbehave.This is a sorrowful moment and such wrong sentiments are an Zambian.We are mourning and you can’t send such wrong messages.
THE CALIBER OF THE OPPOSITION SO LOW THAT IT IS SO EMBARRASSING. SHOW SOME KIND OF CIVILITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT POLITICS IS A COMPETITION OF IDEALOGIES AND NOT A WAR AGAINST EACH OTHER.
TRY TO BE ZAMBIAN AND FORGET STREET BEHAVIOUR. THAT IS A BEHAVIOUR OF ADULT UNDESIRABLES. GET WISE AND DO THE RIGHT THING.