The Lungu Family says President  Hichilema should never be anywhere near the body of  Edgar Lungu

On Thursday 5th June 2025, the 6th Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, died in South Africa.

Following his death, the family has had several engagements with the Government of the Republic of Zambia with two delegations.

The first was led by Mr.Mulambo Haimbe, the Minister of Foreign affairs and the Second by Mr. Enock Kavindele, a former vice president who was deputized by Mr. Leslie Mbula, a former secretary to the Cabinet, in the company of Mr. Patrick Kangwa, the current secretary to the cabinet.

At the said meetings, it was made known that the family had already put in place all logistics to address the wishes of the deceased that his mortal remains be conveyed by the family privately.

The family is disturbed by the desire of the Government of the Republic of Zambia to convey the mortal remains of the 6th Republican President in ways that suggest that they have no say in the manner the same will be conveyed and how they desire that he be mourned and not the Government of the Republic of Zambia and that President Hakainde Hichilema should not be anywhere near the body of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for reasons that have become common cause.

In the conveyance of the remains, it is the desire of the family that the conscience of the deceased should not be betrayed and that the death of the 6th Republican President does not repose any superior rights to the Government that exceed those of the family.

In the said meetings, the Government changed positions on proposals that they earlier said were agreeable after returning from purported consultations.

The family finds it difficult to continue engaging with the Government, which has preset conditions that suggest that the family has no say in the fundamental issues relating to the manner the deceased is to be mourned and the conveyance of his remains.

Matters of conscience for both the deceased and the family should not be sacrificed at the  alter of convenience by the Government.

The family remains committed to the 6th Republican President being mourned in a befitting manner by both the nation, foreign dignitaries and the family.