Patriotic Front (PF) presidential aspirant Makebi Zulu has responded to criticism over his active political engagement while the body of his former boss, President Edgar Lungu, remains in a South African morgue nearly six months after his death.
As the Lungu family spokesperson, Zulu has faced public backlash, ridicule, and demands for burial updates instead of campaign messages since announcing his political ambitions.
Speaking through an interview Zulu argued it is unfair to label him insensitive or opportunistic, stating that the prolonged burial delay weighs on him daily. He emphasized that mourning does not mean abandoning national responsibilities.
“President Edgar Lungu, even in his death, would want to see a better Zambia. He would want to see to it that rights of the people in Zambia are respected,” Zulu said.
He explained he has become a scapegoat in the burial impasse, accused personally of delays when he was only acting as family spokesperson. Zulu rejected claims that he is leveraging the tragedy for political gain, saying no one would choose extended mourning for such purposes.
The delay, he noted, stems from unresolved disagreements and mistrust between the family and the state, not his personal interests. Zulu said he has chosen to absorb public criticism to shield the grieving family from further pain.
“I am glad that I have been given the honour to be the shock absorber for and on behalf of the [family]. I’m happy to do that. All the attacks that have been levelled against the family, by the government, is propaganda machinery,” he stated.
Zulu added that Lungu would not have wanted his death to divide the nation or stifle discourse on issues affecting Zambians.
Nevertheless, until President Lungu is laid to rest, the unresolved burial continues to overshadow Zulu’s political aspirations.
