In brief
The political feud ignited by the rivalry between Zambian leaders has taken a bitter turn following the death of Edgar Lungu, with his family contesting the government's decision regarding his burial arrangements.
In a fierce ongoing power struggle, the legacy of Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu remains entangled in a controversy surrounding his funeral. After Lungu's passing at 68, the tensions between current President Hakainde Hichilema and Lungu's family have only intensified.Lungu's relatives oppose Hichilema’s state funeral proposal, asserting that their late father’s wishes included keeping Hichilema, who stripped him of retirement benefits, from the burial arrangements. In a further twist, Lungu passed away in South Africa after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, leading his family to seek a burial in that nation rather than Zambia.However, this bid was halted by a South African court during a legal dispute sparked by the Zambian government. Their challenge claimed jurisdiction over the burial site, leading to judicial intervention pending a resolution to the matter.Makebi Zulu, the family’s spokesperson, stated, “The family wants to give him a dignified burial, not one that is shrouded in mockery,” emphasizing their desire to sidestep a politically charged funeral fraught with public relations considerations. Thus, the rivalry that defined Lungu’s political career persists even after his death, casting a long shadow over the sanctity of his final resting place.
