It is shameful that ECL remains unburied – Chifumu Banda

It is shameful that ECL remains unburied – Chifumu Banda

Opposition politician Chifumu Banda has sharply criticised the continued delay in the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, describing the situation as shameful and deeply troubling for the country, seven months after Lungu’s death.

Banda said the prolonged stay of the former Head of State’s body in a South African mortuary has gone beyond a private family matter and has become a national concern that reflects poorly on Zambia’s political culture, leadership maturity, and respect for tradition. He argued that the inability to resolve the impasse exposes deeper political tensions and a failure of leadership restraint at the highest levels.

Speaking against the backdrop of renewed public debate on the matter, Banda said Zambians are witnessing an unprecedented situation in which a former President has not been laid to rest long after death, despite repeated public assurances that talks and consultations are ongoing. He said this has caused distress not only to the Lungu family but also to many citizens who regard the burial of a former Head of State as a matter of national dignity.

Banda questioned how a country that prides itself on peace, cultural values, and respect for elders could allow such a stalemate to persist. He said burial rites are not merely ceremonial but are deeply rooted in African tradition and national identity, especially when they concern a leader who once held the highest office in the land.

He accused the current political leadership of allowing partisan considerations to overshadow basic humanity and decency. Banda said disagreements over protocol, venue, or arrangements should never be allowed to override the need to give a former President a dignified send-off.

According to Banda, the continued delay risks setting a dangerous precedent in which political rivalry extends beyond life and into death. He warned that such a trajectory could further polarise the nation and erode the shared values that have historically guided Zambia through political transitions.

Banda also rejected arguments suggesting that the matter should be left entirely to private negotiations, insisting that the state has an unavoidable role when it comes to former Heads of State. He said while family wishes must be respected, the government equally carries constitutional, cultural, and moral responsibilities that cannot be indefinitely deferred.

He further criticised what he described as selective urgency in national affairs, arguing that issues affecting political optics often receive swift attention, while matters of deeper moral consequence are allowed to stagnate. Banda said the silence and delays surrounding the burial stand in stark contrast to the speed with which political disputes are often pursued when power or control is at stake.

The opposition figure urged the government to demonstrate statesmanship by separating political disagreements from matters of national closure. He said Zambia’s history of peaceful transitions should compel leaders to act with restraint and empathy, particularly in moments that test the country’s moral compass.

Banda also warned that the unresolved burial has begun to fuel public speculation, misinformation, and political messaging that could have been avoided through decisive and transparent action. He said prolonged uncertainty invites unnecessary narratives that further inflame tensions and distract from pressing economic and social challenges facing the country.

He called on all parties involved to prioritise national unity over ego and political positioning. Banda said leadership is most visible not in moments of triumph but in how power is exercised during sensitive and painful circumstances.

The issue of Lungu’s burial has been a prominent topic in recent political commentary, with traditional leaders, clerics, and opposition figures weighing in on what they describe as a disturbing impasse. While government officials have indicated that consultations are ongoing, no clear timeline has been publicly communicated, adding to public frustration.

Banda said the absence of closure has left a symbolic wound in the nation’s conscience. He argued that burying a former President should not be controversial, delayed, or politicised, but handled with dignity, speed, and respect in keeping with Zambia’s values.

history will judge harshly any leadership that allowed political differences to overshadow humanity. Banda said Zambia owes it to itself, and to future generations, to ensure that even in disagreement, the country does not lose its sense of decency.