Family of Late President Lungu Requests Respect for Private Funeral Arrangements
Pretoria South Africa , 12th June 2025
The family of Zambia’s late 6th Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has requested that the government respect their decision to handle his funeral privately, in accordance with his expressed wishes.
Dr. Lungu passed away in South Africa on 5th June 2025. Since his passing, two delegations one led by Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe and another by former Vice President Enock Kavindele held meetings with the family. The discussions, however, have not yielded consensus.
In a statement released by family spokesperson Makebi Zulu, the family expressed disappointment at what they described as shifting positions from the government, even after prior agreements had been reached. They emphasized that all logistical preparations had already been put in place to ensure that Dr. Lungu’s wishes were honoured.
“The family finds it difficult to continue engaging with the Government, which has preset conditions that suggest that the family has no say in fundamental issues relating to the manner the deceased is to be mourned.
The family called for understanding from the public, affirming that their intention is to honour Dr. Lungu in a manner befitting his stature while remaining faithful to his personal instructions.
Kavindele is not a former president please.
Is it not ” quagmire or muddle” eeh.