As the clock struck exactly 19:00 hours, President Hichilema appeared on national TV.
“Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning,” he began.
His demeanor could not betray him….He started by reflecting on the events following the demise of the 6th Republican President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu. He paid tribute to key figures involved in finding an amicable solution to the impasse over the state funeral, including Vice President Enock Kavindele, Chief Mumbi, the Foreign Affairs Minister, and the Secretary to the Cabinet. President Hichilema extended gratitude to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the people of South Africa for their cooperation and compassion.
He also apologised for the failure of Mr. Lungu’s family to make his remains available, despite the South African Defence Forces rolling-out the red carpet and being on standby to accord him full military honors.
“Given these circumstances, I therefore wish to inform the nation, that as of the end of today the 19th of June 2025, this particular national mourning period is officially over,” he declared.
What do we make of this?
Immediately after the news of Mr. Lungu’s passing broke, his family and the political parties he was associated with, the Patriotic Front and Tonse Alliance, opted to play dirty politics with the corpse! PF Vice President Given Lubinda unilaterally declared a 7-day national mourning period, which is a clear breach of the law. According to the Constitution, only the President has the mandate to declare a state funeral.
Shortly after, Sean Tembo, leader of a nondescript political party in Ngwerere village, banned President Hichilema from attending the funeral. Furthermore, Raphael Nakachinda, one of the PF faction’s Secretary Generals, suggested to the South African media that they couldn’t rule out poisoning, potentially inciting public unrest. As if this wasn’t enough, the so-called family spokesman started issuing instructions on how the former president never wanted his successor to be anywhere near his body.
We highly commend President Hichilema for making this bold decision. The nation cannot be held hostage by Mr. Lungu’s family and the PF for as long as they wish. Zambia has lost five former presidents under different circumstances in the past, and in none of those instances did their families or their respective political parties engage in such a despicable conduct!
As they seek closure on this matter, our hope is that the Lungu family will come to terms with their loss and make the right decision, rather than allowing desperate politicians to continue exploiting the situation for political gain.
Prince Bill M Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst
Despicable, Raphael Highjacked Nakachinda is a complete well rounded sleazeball. He has no future in Zambia politics because of his subnormal intelligence. He does not meet any standard of an IQ rating. He can never do right. There is a stupid real reason PF is so desperate to get back in office which will never happen.
Serious ignorance in the article as usual. I started by looking at the author and I knew which way it would go. No objectivity, no sense, polarised as usual. I am sure shocked by the swift and decisive action by the family who are the final and only authority on this funeral to burry in SA
How can stopping a national mourning be a bold descision? A bold descision would be things like making the economy tick again or even matching it to the better one we had under PF
How do you know? I dont agree with your tantrums
Just reading some of the Comments below, can see how dull PF cadres are and will never accept a mistake or a wrongdoing. On what grounds or Powers would Lubinda declare a National Mourning. Such stupidity is despicable and if it was during their time? HH did the same? He would be in Jail. Akalilo Kenu kaba Lungu, just bury quietly and don’t disturb us. NONSENSE.
@The Prince
You must be one of the dull chaps. Lubinda declared 7 days of morning and not national mourning.
If you dnt know the difference then that proves me right.
Why are you guys selective listeners? how does that help you?
You so full of hurt
I have a funso
If i have a sick child at home who is complaining of vomiting and headaches, but i tell my wife that we cannot take that child to the hospital becuase we have intembusha in our backyard that can be boiled and taken as medicine by the patient.
I further tell my wife that the child should not even be allowed to move outside the gate, even if that child is willing to meet his own medical bills at the hospital. If that child dies can i and my beautiful wife be considered as accomplices in aiding the death of our only child.
Lest we forget, bill mu7 on tuesday must fall
Im breaker and i approve this mesage
They wanted to stop us from going to the airport to receive the remains of ECL but themselves only, we are all not going there now. And for clarity, there are no desperate politicians here, it is those who changed agreed terms to suit their egos who have caused all this. Can you be honest for once. Does it pain to be honest
# Respect the wishes of the family
How can reports say the Lungu Family disgraced Zambia
Is it not Zambian politics and personal feelings that brought this upon us ?
It takes 2 to tango remember
@ Tiyeni Nazo
look here pf was busy bragging that they built quality hospitals in Zambia, ok fair enough, the same people when they have just flu or maternity cases, they send their families abroad for treatment what about you Tiyeni Nazo and I what have they done to you and I. Nothing, but you are busy supporting blindly. Please check your people before you say something, no patriotism whatsoever, but when they want some votes in chawama now they forget that chawama is dirty they start pretending as if they love the people of the area, just to make more money, wake from sleeping fTiyeni Nazo.
@Peace Maker, you are completely off topic, come back to planet earth.
It is chivote vote that has killed this country. I am sure you now understand that for one to be a knowledgeable leader to handle certain issues, he must have passed through some roles like Councillor, MP, or any other civic leadership role.
The country is totally messed up especially after 2021
Why are you still hurting? It’s a family affair, as it has always been since the stripping off of his benefits. You want too look good now that he’s gone. Aikona, just get a life, Kapinga.
They never stripped his benefits.Stop lying and get the facts batantemeni.Ba Lungu was still on the government pay roll until his last day on earth.
@Musonda, kindly show us his last three payslips.lets debate with facts
@ peace maker, yes PF can proudly brag of building state of art health facilities country wide but you see these buildings do not function in isolation from medicines,electricity that powers medical equipments such as oxygen and competent working personell to carry out these duties.
We all know how the health personel work in zambia, we know how we arr being load shaded and we know where usaid drags that are supposed to be given in our health centers are found at the chemist near you, for more information, contact the us embasodor to zambia Gonzales and why he cut off aid to our nation from end 2021 to date.
@ peace maker
The Pf was reshaping the health department until the imingalato fanatics took over that is why ecl had to be flown abroad.
But i feel you are trying to distruct us from the infamouse bill mu7…. We say no to the bill
Im breaker and i approve this message
These
The bold descision is Tasilas to honour the wishes of his father. Good lesson for us all, never never betray your father or mother in life or in death. There is a reason Parents leave us instructions
So Kaweche betrayed his father? Tasila should have taken a leaf from the Kaundas.
As her own father; who you suggest is honouring her father, is the same person who when he was president made the decision that Kaunda should be accorded a state funeral. The courts merely, sided with that decision. So mu kamba chani?
Burial date not known but most flights to SA full for next week. The man had a huge following, love him or hate him, it is what it is
Advisors, national mourning should have run its course and ended today, i mean it was just 2 days to go before an emotional descision to end it and the family used that to swiftly respond to bury their own in SA. Love did not lead this time
This thing of never having been a branch chairman, Councillor or MP. If you are given leadership, you struggle. Our exact situation right now
The shushusshus have taken over and moderating out most of the already posts.
And Thabo Kawana says the current and late former head of state were speaking daily. If so, why do we have the current status. Why do these people tell lies so much?
Presido: National mourning ends tonight
Family, the following day: We are burying in SA
Quick, swift, precise, equal measure and decisive response
President wants to override everything. Perhaps he does not realize that without the presidential power, he is as nothing as an insect. Also such insolence will alienate citizens and his party’s stay beyond his presidency reduces in number. Time vindicates and time is ticking.
@reality check How? How is the President overiding? They want to bury in SA? Let them. Tell us what HH has overidden?
The way south africans hate foreigners and you are busy boasting of burying in their land! Disgaceful! The Lungu family enriched themselves and enjoyed the privlledges of presidency but now do not want the responsibility those privelges came with. total disgrace. At least they could have asked to bury in Eastern provine.
But why are you hurting yourself? Are you SA or it’s people? Let the leaders there decide. Your hate is overflowing.
Mary, not true. See a doctor to assist handle your hallucinations
this is to think that eastern province is not in Zambia right?
I feel sorry for the Lungu women who are being used mercilessly by the political vultures who pretend to be ECL’s friends. All this shall come to pass and these women will have to face life on their own. Wonder how they will live with themselves.
There is nothing to feel sorry for. The late left instructions and the family is faithfully following them. Remember the idea for burying away is a control measure for those not wanted near his body. No offence committed, no law broken.
You are quite right and well put
What does leave a mark is HH cancelling the period of mourning early when he sated indefinite mourning period IT wasn’t indefinite it was to the 23rd June
Just a point
Jonathan Mutawari has caused too much confusion.Let his remains be taken to Lilongwe where his family is.As Zambians we are thankful for his services
Please…….
We are tired , bury the late president already……..
Wheels of Statecraft don’t stop
FWD2031