Sunday Reflections: Edgar Chagwa Lungu Still Stirring Zambia’s Soul
…he ‘never’ endorsed anyone according Sishuwa
Amb. Anthony Mukwita wrote-
7 Sept 25.
Even in death, Zambia’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, refuses to be relegated to the margins of history.
Eight months before Parliament dissolves ahead of a pivotal election, his name echoes, not in campaign slogans, but in morgues and living rooms, courtrooms and quiet prayers.
President Lungu lies in a South African mortuary, his burial paused in a delicate negotiation between family wishes and state protocol. And yet, the nation listens.
In a candid interview aired on KBNTV, historian Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa, Zambia’s own intellectual export to Stellenbosch revealed that Lungu “never” endorsed a successor from the Patriotic Front.
“He told me he was reluctant,” Sishuwa shared, “because memories of PF failures, perceived or real, were still fresh.” Instead, Lungu named individuals outside politics. “I have this on record,” Sishuwa added, “but I’m not at liberty to name them.”
Tragically, Lungu passed away two weeks later, before making those names public says Sishuwa, a quiet irony for a man who built Zambia’s largest roads and airports, yet left no clear political runway behind.
As former First Lady Esther Lungu seeks a private farewell, the state hesitates.
Sishuwa invoked the late U.S. Senator John McCain, who requested that President Trump not attend his funeral, a wish respected, with McCain buried with full honours. The parallel is poignant to Zambia.
Five key takeaways from the KBNTV interview:
• Lungu did not endorse a PF successor.
• He named non-political figures as potential leaders.
• The greatest opposition, Sishuwa suggests, is the people.
• Zambia’s tradition is peaceful transition—ballots, not bullets.
• A formidable opposition candidate will emerge before August 13.
Sishuwa’s optimism is infectious: “Zambians are always ready,” he said. “They’ll vote on promises on corruption, energy, the economy. They’ll ask, ‘What’s the score?’”
As Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa begins sensitive discussions with the Lungu family led by family counsellor Makebi Zulu, one hopes for a resolution that honours both private grief and public legacy.
Who blinks first? Perhaps no one. Perhaps dignity prevails.
The full interview is available on KBNTV’s Facebook page.
It’s worth watching—not only for political insight, but for the quiet reminder that Zambia’s heartbeat remains steady, even when sorrow clouds the sky.
And while Sishuwa’s account is on record, he is not alone. Others, too, heard Lungu’s final reflections, each with “their own version” of the ‘last word.’
We mourn, yes. But we mourn in hope, and pray for unity and dignity for the late president and honour for the surviving family led by Mrs Lungu.
Discussing ECL today (three months after his death) is ‘tricky’ because you just dont know whom you offend, even as a historian or author like myself, this topic is deeply steeped into sensitivities and emotions, so many stay quite for fear of being misunderstood.
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Amb. Anthony Mukwita is a published author and international relations analyst.
Ba Mukwita, under normal circumstances, the remains of Mr. Lungu should have been buried a long time ago. The fact that he is still in “suspended animation” speaks volumes about who he was.
With all the dirt swirling around, it is hard to speak of dignity unless you have a different definition of dignity.
Senator McCain was American. 1. They have a very different funeral culture from what we have in Africa. It is amazing how an African intellectual would want to ape a foreign culture. 2. McCain was not a head of State. How can you compare that to Lungu?
That’s hoodwinking people! Lungu’s dead and his corpse can’t do anything. Start talking about something new. If you don’t know, Lungu took advantage of Sata’s death and he knew Sata could not say anything to stop him. He also took to the now famous PF chorus that had anointed him. Even though it was a lie, he was the only person who made the outrageous claim. Unlike this time, everyone learnt the game, but there’s no winner this time because the entire PF, some opposition leaders including some in their personal capacity have made the same claim. One can not believe the madness happening because there is no such a thing as being anointed in most party constitutions. People are supposed to elect a new leader. The main reason though is to loot the national resources by mimicking Lungu.
There is no evidence that Lingu died. It is speculation, so far, as long as no one, outside the family cabal, has validated or authenticated the so-called remins. The family has zero credibility. Until then, it is futile to argue one way or the other. If you notice, many voices of reason are quiet, and that silence says a lot.