PRESIDENT HICHILEMA SHOULD NOT ATTEND LUNGU’S FUNERAL, FAMILY INSISTS
FAMILY spokesperson for the late former president Edgar Lungu says that President Hakainde Hichilema should not be part of the funeral according to the family.
Makebi Zulu said the family of the late president does not want President Hichilema and Government to be in charge of the funeral in Zambia but let the family take the lead.
“The family is against President Hichilema taking a lead, because the funeral is not a Presidential funeral, it’s a state funeral and the President is not the state, the very insisting that he is doing goes against the wish of the family, and for that being the position there will be no compromise,” he said.
Speaking when he featured on SABC news, Face the Nation programme in South Africa, Zulu said the family of the deceased are not against burying the remains of Lungu in Zambia but are against the government taking charge in putting him to rest.
He added that the family’s only wish is giving a dignified send off of Lungu who died on June 5, 2025 in South Africa but is yet to be buried due to the impasse between the Lungus and Government.
Zulu said the position undertaken by the family to bury in south Africa is because the government failed to honour the agreement made with the family.
“The duty of the State is to ask the family how they want to mourn and what role [government ] they can play in the whole thing, the government has come with a view that they are entitled with the body of the president.”
“The family is not fighting with the government but the government is the one fighting with the family because they have gotten the issue as one to be propaganda, wanting to avoid embarrassment and not to look at the interest of the family,” Zulu said.
Zulu said it was possible for the body to buried in Zambia but the family nol onger trusts the government after they broke the promise they agreed on.
“After President Edgar Lungu died, we engaged into negotiations with the Government of Zambia, most of the things we could agree [but] government would sometimes change their mind especially on issues that were a concern to the family and the deceased before he died.”
“And just when we thought we had reached middle ground then there was a part of government having changed its position,” he said.
Zulu added that the family is expecting no guarantees from the state for Lungu to be buried in Zambia especially that the national mourning which was supposed to end on June 23, was cancelled on June 18.
According to Zulu, when President Hichilema said it could be an embarrassment to bury the body in South Africa, it brought a picture that they don’t care about the family.
“It is the government wanting to look good, not embarrassing themselves in this particular negotiations,” Zulu said.
Furthermore, Zulu said there was no need for President Hichilema to attend the funeral because it is not a presidential funeral but a State funeral
“The President is not the State,” stated Zulu.
By Lucy Phiri
When someone needs access to the dead body for his rituals, you can not reason with him. Even if he does agree to stay away from the funeral, there is a chance his witch doctors will visit the grave after burial to do whatever they do. The only thing clear is that there is an open grave that has to be occupied. The question is, who will occupy it?
“He who digs holes for others, shall himself be buried in one of them”. -Edith Nawakwi.
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Welcome back ba headless!
This is stupidity. Someone who was defeated while alive and kicking now should be defeated using wich craft. This is more crazy than this drama. Stop this foolishness.
Ili lyashi lyakwa kaleya Mateyo.
I agree with the argument that the President is not the state because the President is always a human being. The state is a concept that describes the administrative structure that provides public services and not a human being. However, the presidency is part of the state.
I am not sure I understand what you agree with here. It might be helpful if you could complete your thought. I thought that the president, not of the Rotary Club in this case, is part of the presidency, to follow your logic… I am addressing your logic, not the funeral – because I don’t know yet who died, apart from all the speculations.
Gunner then why do you refer to the President as the head of state? Why is that person you refer to as the head of State? Why is that person given the Instrument of Power as a symbol of authority to run those administrative structures called the state?
Why is the Secretary to the cabinet not refered to as the Head of State? These positions and titles are for a reason. As you arguement will suggest that this body or structure can operate without people or being led by a person.
Your argument will also further suggest that the essence of the law and constitution is how this person or person will run this administrative structure called the state.
All in all Lungu having been part of that structure and the law provides for former occupants of that structure be buried at Embassy Park. And that is in the law. Precendence exists. Are the Lungus denying that he was not 6th President of Zambia? Does his return to active change that fact? I can attest that you conceed to the fact that at the time of his death his benefits were reinstated; as such why should he not be accorded a state funeral as outline in the law?
The bottom line of this debate is that while we are a people who in our lives wear many hats. Some of the hats we wear cloak us with functional authority. A status. That does not dismiss us from the fact that we are not parents to some one. And that is what the Lungu’s should not forget. What we see is a set of tantrums that they perform to force the government to the table so that they can discuss their crimibality. But unfortuately; they would be speaking to the wrong administrative structure (as you suggest the state is an administrative structure). So within the state structures is the Judicary part of the state? And therein separation of powers? With the same constitution establishing laws or rules who can do what? Well Bulldozing the Head of State to come to the table to discuss their criminality wont work. Like Milingo or the young lady that was found with millions; they can forfeit the stolen wealth. That doesnt mean the criminal aspect is set aside. At law the President can only exercise that after conviction.
The state us an underlying permanent structure of rule. There are different persons within this structure of rule playing different roles. So a state cannot be reduced to a President only. In the UK, the King playing ceremonial presidential roles represents the continuity of the state. A change of government does not bring with it a change of who becomes king or queen. In Zambia, the continuity of the state is supposed to be represented by an impartial civil service which should outlive any government in place.
Mulenga, your logic is absurd!
Ba ma shina read my comment above it outlines the fallacy of your notion.
You are confused, and if you think your Dr. title will make people at ease to respect your thought buble ubepelefye. The King is the head of state in the UK and it’s completely a different system from ours. Ours is a Republic and we follow a democratic system, and the UK is run as a Mornach with the king as hesd of state not the prime minister ! I hope your thick head gets it.
It’s not possible.He is the Chief of the armed forces who are supposed to salute the former in death. There are other head of states who wants to attend this funeral and our head of state absent. Common sense is lacking from this family. This lawyer is misleading them
HH SHOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATION AND UNDERMINED BY THIEVES.THIS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING, UNDERMINING THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA.WE WON’T ALLOW IT
I would love the government to explain to us what Haaindigo Tyrol means on rituals and who exactly he refers to.He may have a story to share.
You mean you would like Tyrol to explain? He who allergies bears the responsibility to prove… not the government.
Who is the Head of State?
This argument from Makebi is absurd.
This whole issue stinks of politics
Exactly.
This is nonsense. Legal precedence shows that all previous Head of State at those times were in attendance including the one in question to be buried now. So what logic is in all this thinking.
Hatred and resentment does not pass for any one to pretend or wish that The current Head of State does not exists. This is absurd. He is President deal with it. It can not be changed.
You are confused, and if you think your Dr. title will make people at ease to respect your thought buble ubepelefye. The King is the head of state in the UK and it’s completely a different system from ours. Ours is a Republic and we follow a democratic system, and the UK is run as a Mornach with the king as hesd of state not the prime minister ! I hope your thick head gets it.
Makebi has never had so much attention in his life time. He would to anyone to continue with his dream ! I think it’s time someone sued him for abuse of a corpse and to have his registration cancelled for his uncouth behaviour.