“ZAMBIA HELD HOSTAGE BY ONE MAN’S EGO”: LUBINDA BLASTS STATE OVER LUNGU FUNERAL, CALLS FOR OPPOSITION UNITY
By Brian Matambo- Sandton, South Africa
In a searing interview on Emmanuel Mwamba Verified, Acting President of the Patriotic Front and the Tonse Alliance, Hon. Given Lubinda, issued a sweeping indictment of President Hakainde Hichilema’s government, accusing it of vendetta politics, tribal domination, and deliberate destabilization of Zambia’s democracy.
The episode, hosted by Emmanuel Mwamba, broadcasting from the United States, featured Lubinda live from South Africa, where he was providing solidarity to the Lungu family during an ongoing legal dispute with the Zambian state over the burial of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
“To keep the remains of a former president in a morgue for 60 days, just so one man can preside over a funeral, is not a matter of protocol. It’s a matter of cruelty,” Lubinda said. “This is no longer about statecraft. This is about one man’s insatiable appetite for pain.”
*“THE STATE WAS SILENT; WE WERE FORCED TO LEAD”*
Lubinda detailed how news of President Lungu’s passing broke not from the government, but from the family, under pressure and without support.
“From 6 AM we waited. By 11, it was confirmed. But by 3 PM, it was his daughter, not the Head of State, who had to speak to the nation. That was the first betrayal.”
In the vacuum of leadership, Lubinda convened an emergency PF NEC meeting and declared a period of mourning. Provincial PF offices became the centers for national grief, as government remained conspicuously absent.
“Our people gathered peacefully. They mourned with dignity. They led where the government failed.”
*A FUNERAL TURNED BATTLEFIELD*
Lubinda exposed how earlier agreements with the family were violated by the state, including attempts to impose a closed church service at the airport and the exclusion of PF leaders from receiving the body. T-shirts bearing Lungu’s face were printed without family or party authorization.
“This wasn’t about honoring a former president. This was a power grab, dressed in black,” Lubinda said. “When the family refused to surrender the remains to the state, the government sued them. Sued a grieving widow. In a foreign court.”
Lubinda applauded the legal defense mounted by family lawyer Makebi Zulu, emphasizing that no Zambian law dictates burial arrangements for former heads of state.
*“ONE MAN’S TYRANNY”*
Lubinda pointed the finger squarely at President Hichilema.
“No Cabinet resolution. No national consensus. This is not government policy, it is one man’s obsession,” he said. “Hakainde is enjoying their suffering. That’s the only way to explain this cruelty.”
He also warned that Zambia’s international standing is now in question, with interventions from South African and regional leaders failing to persuade the government to relent.
*THE QUESTION OF TRIBE*
The show took a sharp turn when a Catholic priest, Father Pombo, criticised prominent political figures from Luapula, Northern and Eastern who have been gullible to be used by the UPND to destabilise the opposition. A female caller then phoned in, attacking the priest and suggesting he was himself being tribal.
Let’s be honest: it is not Zambians who are tribal. It is the political elites, especially the UPND, who have used tribal identity as a weapon since Mapatizya in 2006.
They have shamelessly leaned on regionalism while portraying themselves as victims. President Hichilema’s pattern of appointments, heavily skewed along ethnic and regional lines, is evidence enough. Yet the same voices who jumped to call out Father Pombo are silent when it comes to HH’s blatant tribal favoritism.
The lady who called in should go and reprimand Hakainde Hichilema, not Father Pombo. Let us not pretend.
A CAPTURED STATE: PARLIAMENT, JUDICIARY, AND THE MEDIA
Lubinda described Zambia’s Parliament as a shadow of democracy.
“MPs are suspended for speaking the truth. One was abducted and vanished. The Speaker now answers questions before ministers do. Parliament is no longer independent. It’s an appendage of State House.”
He warned that the judiciary is also falling in line, citing the rushed creation of a Financial Crimes Court upon a mere presidential pronouncement.
“Zambia is now ruled by decree, not law.”
“UNITY OR BETRAYAL”
Lubinda closed with a firm declaration: there is no other path to 2026 except unity.
“The PF will not go it alone,” he said. “Any political party or movement that goes solo in 2026 will be betraying the people of Zambia.”
He recommitted the Patriotic Front and the Tonse Alliance to building a unified, credible opposition front.
“We can only defeat tyranny together. We don’t have the luxury of ego. We have a country to rescue.”
As Lubinda ended the interview, his voice steadied with purpose:
“They feared Edgar Lungu in life. They fear him even more in death. But no matter how long they delay it, his remains will return home. And so will the hope he stood for.”
Brian Matambo
Political Analyst & Media Consultant, Reporting from Sandton, South Africa
This faction of PF should be ashamed of using a corpse to arm twist the gabvament. It can’t never. Boma ni boma. You can twist the narrative any way you like, you can try and extract public sympathy, this will not remove responsibility for the role the Lungu family themselves played in this matter. The State is fully aware of the shenanigans that were being executed immediately prior to the demise of ECL. Don’t mistake their silence for docility.
You must not blame President Hakainde Hichilema on your abnormal political strategies of the passive third world.You know too well about Zambian spirit or tradition when we lose a President or a former one.You followed that tradition of national funeral and forced the Kaunda family out of their desire but you become contrary and support the desire of the Lungu family.This is a very shameful move you have taken.You have over embarrassed this country bacause of wanting to get back to power.I don’t think Zambians will accept such inferior political tactics that are so filthy.You want to gain political mileage on a dead body that must be put to rest.You can even carry the lies in a foreign country.Your people broke the laws with impunity with the view of creating a fake narrative of dictatorship and political persecution.The laws are there and most of the laws you and your people made them.The same laws you created are acting on you.President Hichilema has nothing to do with imprisonment of some people, it is the law they have broken.When an MP has his seat vacant a bye election has to take place within a stipulated time.The Parliament of Zambia has its rules and manners of conduct which all Parliamentarians are aware of the conduct of some MPs prompts the Speaker to take action to stop perpetual disorderliness in the house.President Lungu was not feared by the opposition then but was given respect as a head of state which you are not doing to President Hichilema.You are now saying the body of late President will come home yet you are the one supporting the idea of burying in South Africa.Your political style will not help you even if you gang up.You will end up fighting yourselves.The people of Zambia appreciate the work the UPND government is doing.We are still on with the UPND.
This buffoon I very ignorant of the evil tribal tentacles in the Tonse and PF itself. He doesn’t realize that as far as Tonse alliance is concerned, only one with roots in the Umodzi kumawa can be allowed to lead. And according to the true PF, only one from northern region, will be allowed to lead pf. Lubinda, is just behaving like a chicken without a head. Even the PF secretary general, is not honest with the acting PF president. He is not wanted despite his great patriotism to the party. He will prove this fact during and after their conversation
Just look at yourself in the mirror baba, you have lost a lot of weight. Wayonda iwe, you are not well. Concentrate on your health and leave politics to others who are fit otherwise you will be all by yourself. Take care of yourself. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol too. Don’t say you were not warned.