By Sishuwa Sishuwa
My reading of the family’s press statement indicates three reasons behind the family’s decision, in addition to the family’s feeling that the government is abrogating what was previously agreed by making unilateral decisions. The family appears unhappy:
1. That Hichilema will be at the airport to welcome the body and preside over a church service in an unstated location within the airport that was not part of the original agreement.
2. That members of the public including supporters of Lungu’s party are banned from going to the airport to receive the body, as attendance is strictly by invitation. In addition to the fact that this decision was not agreed with the family, it represents a departure from history. When President Mwanawasa and President Sata died outside the country, anyone interested was free to go to the airport.
3. That Hichilema will be the first person to view the body of Lungu on Thursday, another unilateral decision.
It seems to me that the family, in the main, does not want Hichilema to have anything to do with the funeral. Remember that the family has repeatedly stated that they do not want president Hichilema anywhere near the body or funeral of his predecessor, as per Lungu’s will. Why is it so hard for the president to respect the wishes of the grieving family members instead of putting political considerations first?
First, there is no law that makes it mandatory for the president of Zambia to attend anyone’s funeral. If the argument is that this is a State funeral, President Hichilema can delegate Vice-President Mutale Nalumango or anyone else to stand in for him for any government role in this funeral. I suppose the family would welcome the move. The State is not one individual but a system and any one person can stand for the State; i.e. Vice-President or Secretary to Cabinet.
Second, it is against African culture to force oneself on a mourning family that has explicitly stated that they do not want you present. What exactly is in this funeral for President Hichilema that he has to be present?
Hichilema did not enjoy a great relationship with Lungu. Where has this outbreak of love for his predecessor in death come from when he did not show it when he was alive? Insisting that he must attend plays into popular beliefs around superstition such as the one suggested in the writeup on the link below by Thandiwe Ngoma.
I hear some people saying we are tired of all this and we want the drama to end, but the loss is to the family. Our interests as members of the public are secondary. What have the rest of us lost? Nothing. In contrast, the Lungu family has lost a loved one and their interests must take priority.
Source: https://x.com/ssishuwa/status/1935317421629522423
Sishula, for once be sober. Lubinda told cadres that no one should go to the airport! Why, because the family requested that. Why is it now HH who said that? Mano yabusushi mwakwata. Sometimes think before you bwata. We know you are paid to bwatabwata but it has time and place. Not this time. Ask Makebi what he is doing with the body that is degenerating as we speak.
Sishuwa why do you want to bring confusion that Man is dead just like any other human being in GaZa, Ukraine or Iran what is so special about Tasila and Ester that the country can be held at ransom
Clearly our historian cant even follow facts.
This whole issue, how does HH become embroiled?
The contention here is that they would like to treat the airport like a bus stop. Are there no immigration and other processes that have to be followed? Do you just allow people on the airport premises..willy nelly?
The Lungu family and their demands have become unreasonable if what is being reported is true.
The level of thinking by our so called learned PhD historian is astounding. A thing I have been saying all along. The man lack critical thought….period.
You can tell how hurt ECL’s enemies are that the body is not coming to Zambia. Now they are insulting like rabbid dogs. Na cibakalipa.
What did they want to do with the body? Witchcraft?
One thing is for sure, the sangomas did not see this coming. Their plans are now in tatters pwaaaaahahaha mow mow mow. Someone will go mad now, just wait and see. Expect to see arrests after arrests after arrests.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
In your thicket of your mind sir.
For what its worth, let the PF go to the nearest hell!
Zed should move on, forget about the ‘national mourning’, when the PF are ready to come back to their senses they will let the govt know.
You are just useless my friend. It will be nice if u sobered up
The declared state funeral is declared by the same head of state of the state where the funeral is taking place.And it is the funeral of a former Head of state. Why did the ECL family accept the funeral to be declared state funeral if they don’t like the one who declared state funeral. Some people who have come to the state funeral are not coming to the ECL family but to the state which has a funeral for solidarity.It is sad that the country can be subjected to such conduct which is like drama.If this funeral will take place in Zambia where the head of state is not allowed then it is lawlessness of the waste kind.Now who will play the role of the head of state? And is he going to feel free to be saluted by the military when he doesn’t deserve that and he has not been delegated by the head of state? We need to have order and respect for authority.Why even single out one as bad when government has more members.This does not make sense at all. It is even childish.They must know that secretary to cabinet is government proper.The lawyer to ECL family must have counselled the family. The officials with secretary to cabinet have been sent by the head of state so they are government.
The thought of ECL’s family to burry his remains in RSA now confirms that ECL was not a Zambian.
Which Zambian family would allow their beloved one to be buried outside the country when there is an opportunity to repatriate the body? Where are Lungu’s family in all this, whether uncles, aunties, or siblings? NIL and NIL!
So,not the family wants him buried in RSA, please, let them go ahead. At least we can focus on other things.
Secondly, why do they want to guard the body jealously? My immediate thought is that Lungu’s family thinks the government can do a postmodern and confirm (not establish) the real cause of death. Otherwise,ni see no any other reason.
Kaunda was present at Kapwepwes funeral even though he was not wanted there, iwe Sishuwa you know the history….ah
What is in this funeral that the family does not want to be officially seen?
This stranded academician doesn’t know that the exaggerated big size of a coffin for ECL, may not contain the body only, but also huge sums of money. It’s for this reason that the family is weary/afraid to be received by the security wings. Let’s wait the secret at the center of all this nonsense will come out.
Shishiwa you can preside over the chaos of ECL’s funeral their South Africa known for chaotic issues. We are tired of these little boys and girls stupidity. We want to move on with our lives.
Those men who haven’t married kindly to choose good families not type of Esther nyawa otherwise you end up into this drama.The woman used to sale salaula therefore that noise found at the market is still there in her head.Dr sishiwa your doctorin is useless because it is adding nothing to the country.witchdoctors who used to come from Malawi left instructions to the family of Edgar lungu that is the reasons why they doing all those nonsense.
Apparently, there is a video showing an aeroplane and soldiers lined and a red carpet was rolled up in South Africa ready for militay send off parade of the body of ECL but there was no casket with the body brought to the airport. So, the question is, where and why was the the body not brought to airport? Was the family opposed to military send off from South Africa by South African government? If the South African government can give military parade send off, how could the Zambian government not be allowed to receive the body with military honours by the President? More importantly, where is the evidence of breach of agreement by government. All the stories being peddled are hearsay. Makebi Zulu, as a lawyer knows or ought to know that hearsay is inadmissible as evidence. The late president deserved a dignified burial.
Some people behave like kids who go to the neighbours, eat chicken with rice and start bad mouthing their home and parents without realizing that the parents are just beyond the hedge listening. They even forget that later in the evening they will go back to the same family and parents they were talking I’ll about.