Political Turmoil as Tasila Lungu Fights for Her Seat

Sun Dec 07 2025 03:08:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant political development, Tasila Lungu, daughter of Zambia's late ex-President Edgar Lungu, faces the loss of her parliamentary seat amidst ongoing grief and legal battles regarding her father's burial.

Tasila Lungu, a member of parliament for the Chawama constituency in Lusaka, has had her seat declared vacant following her extended absence due to the death of her father, former President Edgar Lungu. This decision has sparked controversy, with some accusing the government of hypocrisy for actions taken while the family mourns. As Lungu navigates a complex legal battle over her father's remains and asserts her intention to challenge this ruling, the political landscape in Zambia appears increasingly fraught.

Zambia's parliament has declared vacant the seat held by the daughter of the late ex-President Edgar Lungu, because of her continued absence in the wake of his death.

Until her dismissal, Tasila Lungu had been the MP for Chawama constituency in the capital, Lusaka, representing the opposition Patriotic Front.

In a message to her voters, she hinted that she may try and challenge the decision, saying, 'where there is a will, there is a way'.

In June, her father died at the age of 68 in South Africa, where he was seeking medical treatment. This sparked a bitter legal row with his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, who wanted to repatriate the body for a state funeral against the family's wishes.

Ms Lungu has been attending court in South Africa, challenging an earlier ruling that sided with the wishes of Hichilema's government.

The government had successfully argued in a Pretoria court that Hichilema must be able to attend the funeral because he is the head of state. However, the Lungu family insists that the deceased wished for the president 'not to be anywhere near' his body.

The former president's remains are still in South Africa as the impasse continues.

Action against her parliamentary seat first came from the ruling United Party for National Development. MP Brian Kambita questioned the speaker in July about whether Ms Lungu was still qualified to hold office due to her prolonged absence.

Speaker Nelly Mutti initially granted Ms Lungu 14 days of compassionate leave to mourn her father and return to parliament in September. However, she did not return within the given time.

Parliament wrote to Ms Lungu again, but instead of resuming her duties, she requested more time until her family's burial court case was resolved.

The matter was referred to the parliamentary committee on privileges and absences, which invited Ms Lungu to appear on 18 November. She did not attend that meeting either.

The committee later suggested allowing her to represent her Chawama constituency online until her father's burial arrangements were concluded. However, Ms Mutti rejected that proposal, stating that virtual attendance could not replace physical representation.

In a Facebook statement to her constituents on Friday, Ms Lungu thanked her 'wonderful team of councillors, community members, and constituency staff who continue to coordinate and work tirelessly to serve you'.

Despite Zambia holding a general election next August, elections for the vacant seat are expected to be held within 90 days.

The decision to declare Ms Lungu's seat vacant has received mixed reactions. While some argue that she should be given time to mourn her father, others contend that her constituents have been deprived of representation during this period.

Independent MP Binwell Mpundu has accused the government of hypocrisy, stating it is contradictory to claim solidarity with the Lungu family while simultaneously nullifying the parliamentary seat of the daughter who is mourning her father.