Makebi Zulu, legal representative of the family of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has revealed that the family has formally engaged with the government to discuss the burial of the former Head of State. In a solemn statement, Zulu confirmed that the late president will be buried in Zambia in line with his personal wishes, with dignity befitting his service to the nation. However, the family has also strongly criticized the current government, alleging that it repeatedly denied Lungu access to medical treatment abroad despite being fully aware of his condition. Zulu expressed deep concern that had these requests been honoured, the former president might still be alive. While calling for national unity during this time of mourning, the family insists that no burial arrangement contrary to Lungu’s wishes and dignity will be accepted.
FULL STATEMENT:
Fellow countrymen and women, this is an address on behalf of the family of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the 6th Republican President of the Republic of Zambia. Between yesterday and today, we have had occasion to meet the government of the Republic of Zambia, represented by Honorable Milambo Haimba. In our meetings, they requested to hear what the position of the family was as regards to how the mortal remains of our former president will be dealt with.
In dealing with this subject matter, a position was presented to the government of the Republic of Zambia. The position being that the family wished to respect the wishes of the former president of the Republic of Zambia, and the respect that has been afforded to him, as he wished could be afforded to him, was that he be buried in Zambia. And in being buried in Zambia, he took cognizance of the fact that he served the country faithfully and diligently, putting aside personal ones and putting the country back on a trajectory of development.
Hence, the massive infrastructure development that he oversaw being undertaken in the country. And as such, he would not take away the reason or rather the obligation of every Zambian or the desire of every Zambian to mourn him with dignity. And as such, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu deserves the honors of being buried with the dignity that will be afforded to him by the Zambians.
Through all this, he was cognizant to the fact that the government, under the watch of President Hakainde Hichilema, did not treat him as it ought to have. Sometime in 2022, he requested to travel for medicals in South Africa. The state rejected that request.
That request was re-emphasized in 2023. The state responded by stating that it had no resources. In his response to the state, he stated that he would use his own resources.
The state responded in a letter dated the 7th of September, 2023, stating that his request was denied. Notwithstanding that the said travel was not for leisure or business, but for his health to be attended to. It should be known that at any given time, the state was aware of the ailment of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Having served in State House, and thereafter being former president, they knew what his condition was. Despite all that knowledge that they had, they still refused to allow him to travel. Fellow countrymen and women, you will note that at the time these entitlements were being denied him.
He hadn’t returned to active politics. He was still receiving other entitlements such as a pay that is due to a former head of state. But as regards his health and his movement, those were heavily restricted by the state.
In 2025, when the ailment worsened and doctors travelled into Zambia, checked on him and advised that he should come to South Africa. That time, he had ceased, or government had withdrawn all his privileges, and he travelled as an ordinary citizen. And the only booked and last-minute ticket was at the airport, for purposes of not allowing the state to have enough time to connive and stop him.
He arrived at the airport 30 minutes before boarding, and eventually boarded. Those who dared to give him courtesies at the airport have since been fired. In our meeting with the state today, we made it open and clear that the family is not adverse to certain privileges, though having been taken away from him, to be accorded to him as he earns them.
Fellow countrymen and women, you will note that upon his travel, doctors in South Africa did express a concern to states to say that had he travelled earlier, they could have made certain interventions that would have sent him away. And this would not be the discussion today. However, they proceeded to take measures that were necessary to sustain him and to remedy all the desires of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu himself and the family.
As the family moves, they call for unity, they call for sobriety, they call for introspection that this should not be a cause for division, but should be a cause for unity. And as such, any position from the government that goes against the desires of the family will not be accepted. However, we remain amenable to a win-win situation that accommodates all the views of the stakeholders involved.
I thank you.
Politics of vengeance. Chiluba Vs KK, Mwanawasa Vs Chiluba, Sata Vs Banda, HH vs Lungu. What a long line! Will we ever grow out of them?
That Lungu family has no elders?
Why give responsibilities to these content crators?
Grossly exaggerated I’m sure Turning into the blame game
Petty politics at play
What kind of statement is that. As if this was the late’s first medical visit to SA not his 15th. The previous opposition candidate is not yet buried and people are already aimlessly politicking and lumpenizing, minus even having any opposition candidate, it’s a shame. Will they send witches from Mozambique next or just hit the bar to seek ideas from bottles
But were you not the same people hiding his illness? And were you not the same people pushing him back into politics for your own survival despite knowing he was sick and needed to rest and concentrate on treatment? If anyone is to blame for his death then it’s lungu himself and his PF.
GRZ and the Zambian people at large should not be seen to be begging to accord a former head of state a state funeral………..
Mostly bad advice from bitter power hungry crooks who want to make political capital out of the tradegy
Just put your cards on the table………
You the family, together with the late president………..
Were at odds because the ECL and his family could not account for his wealth……..
Did you want GRZ to turn a blind eye to Perceived corruption on a grand scale ???
Just prove the source your wealth
MHRIEP
FWD2031
Massive infrastructure development but no development of medical services. KK was never evacuated.
Absolute B.S.
The law is clear. You are only entitled to the benefits of a former president if you retire from active politics.
Whoever made ECL to come out of retirement contributed to his demise. ECL was unwell for a long time and needed to recover peacefully.
What kind of people deny someone medical treatment for political ends? Sadistic to the core. If this is true, God’s sword of vengence is closely pursuing some people.
This boy Makeni Zulu too much kulibonesha…these are the same chaps who were misleading Lungu and forced him to return to active politics so that they can continue eating with Lungu…..now trying to cause unnecessary drama….Politicians always mistreat each other….thats the name of the game…..even here in the USA….
Edgar Lungu’s self hunger for regaining office and political parasites seeking to benefit from his comeback largely contributed to his ill health more than the current GRZ.
Poor health and stressful politicking are always a toxic mix.
Unpopular truth Mlevi.
Time for attention seekers to shine…this is their moment….everyone now wants to be heard and be in the Frontline of events…..i can’t stand these useless attention seekers who try very hard to sound relevant….And the Lungu family also shouldn’t allow these vultures to Politicize Lungu’s death….let the man rest in peace…not kufwembana fwembana…
The only way to teach these heartless Zambian politicians who forget to develop their nation while in power is to subject them to the scandalous health facilities when they fall sick after leaving office! We also know the chap’s Condition was incurable, whether you flew him to Pretoria or Gaza, he was bound to return onboard classified as “cargo”. Further, you hide his sickness and prodded him to run for office again and now busy shedding rivers of crocodile nilotica tears now that he has passed away! Beware of what you wish you, ba mambara number one imwe.
The UPND government should honor the late president’s family’s wishes. There’s no need to play hardball——–they blocked him from seeking medical treatment, forcing him to sneak out of the country for healthcare. Now, even in his death, they’re frustrating his family’s request. How insensitive can one be!
Kaunda’s family wanted him buried next to Betty elsewhere but it was Lungu who dragged him to Embassy Park! Naeve paka timupangile kamgodi pa Embassy Park, where his family likes it or not!
The current politicians must also beware and learn from Chagwa, you can loot millions and swallow gallons of Jameson and Chibuku as much as you wish. But when you leave office and fall sick, we will make sure you can’t fly to Morningside by cancelling your passport. You will go to UTH, Maina Soko or ku Chibolya Clinic to be exposed to the same poor facilities you left behind! Mukatalize sicaba maakanyani tuni!
Noise makers and attention seekers…this is their time…..we know them….always jumping in front of the line and trying to be a spokesman…..they’ll literally hijack the whole funeral and make sure it becomes “all about them”……issuing statements after statements….