STATE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT HICHILEMA HAS NO HAND IN EDGAR LUNGU’S BURIAL DELAY
By Josphat Mbewe
State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka has dismissed claims that President Hakainde Hichilema is deliberately delaying the burial of former President Edgar Lungu.
This follows allegations by Socialist Party President Fred M’membe, who has accused President Hichilema of prolonging the burial by taking the matter to court.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Hamasaka has clarified that it is the family of the late former president that has lodged an appeal before a court in South Africa, and that this legal process is the cause of the delay.
He insists that President Hichilema has no involvement in postponing the burial of the late former head of state, an allegation which has resulted in police formally charging and arresting Dr. M’membe with the offence of harassment and humiliation contrary to Section 22(2)(a) and (b) of the Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025.
PHOENIX NEWS
Lugu `s burial has got nothing to do with HH.It is an issue of the state protocol vs arrogance from the family
The Genesis of this whole issue is that the family objected to governments conditions and wanted to go ahead with their own program, the government through the attorney general objected to that demand in court, leading to the court grating government the go ahead to bury. What followed was that the family appealed and that is where we stand today. So, when people say let them bury as a family, they are in effect saying let government grant them their wish. The head of government is the presidency, therefore that appeal of letting them bury as a family is to the office holder, that office holder has the power to grant the family their wish to bury without his presence.
Zambia is a Republic that operates under the rule of law, rather than being influenced by emotions or political animosities.
When one is elected as the president of Zambia, the nation’s wishes dictate the manner of their burial. Consequently, any funeral for a former Republican President is regarded as a State function, rather than a private family matter.
As a result, access to and protocol for such an event are determined by State regulations, rather than personal sentiments or grievances from any political party members, widow, or relatives. No individual possesses the legal or moral authority to exclude a sitting President from a State funeral; doing so is not only unconstitutional but also undermines the national decorum and the dignity associated with the public office held by the President.
It is widely recognized when someone attempts to undermine authority, and the government must not condone such behavior. This family and the political party members are highly divisive. Their refusal to acknowledge HH as the head of state should not serve as justification for their demands. HH triumphed over Mr. Lungu in 2021, effectively halting their ability to exploit or gain from public resources.
Should this be the rationale for Zambians to acquiesce to their demands for HH to be absent from the funeral? The answer is a resounding NO; we cannot operate in such a manner. We must learn to uphold respect for authority. We cannot allow individuals filled with animosity to dictate government actions. This is the same government that KK challenged through the courts, against the family’s wishes. We cannot compromise on protocol.
*This is the same government that challenged KK `s family through the courts, against burying him at his farm.