Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele has urged Zambians to mourn the late former President Edgar Lungu in a dignified manner.
Mr Kavindele says that the late President Lungu served his time as a leader and peacefully handed over the instruments of power to President Hakainde Hichilema, a sign that another elected leader had to govern the country.
The former Vice President condemned those politicising former President Lungu’s funeral, stating that it was wrong to claim that President Lungu was only a leader of a particular political party.
ZANIS reports that speaking after signing in the book of condolence at Belvedere Lodge in Lusaka, Mr Kavindele stated that the whole nation has lost a man who served in the office of president, hence needs to be mourned by all Zambians.
“For only a section of political parties to claim that only they should be in-charge of the funeral is very wrong, we are being denied an opportunity to mourn a former President,” Mr Kavindele said.
He noted that President Lungu’s death was sudden as the nation was not aware of his medical visit to South Africa, but only to be informed of his passing on June 5th 2025 is heartbreaking for the country.
Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Consultant, Oliver Shalala stated that politicians should respect one another especially in such a solemn moment when the country is mourning a man who dedicated his life to politics.
Much as ECL was a national leader , he was also a leader of a political party and his party has every right to have a part to play in his funeral arrangements. ECL was PF. We never saw ECL attend national events just the way the current President never used to when he was in opposition, the reason is obvious, ECL and the government were not in good books. Probing certain issues like his alleged denial of medical treatment travel abroad cannot be deemed as lacking dignity in mourning. I mean if all was well, why would there be this rift with his family with goverment, why would there be this rift with his party. The lesson here is that let us treat each in a humane manner at all times despite political differences
The past cannot be forgotten as this nonsense stems from back then so best you keep quiet
This man is elderly and was former VP and was supposed to be telling this President to say let us support our former head of state who is not feeling well. He never did that, but just to come and talk of dignity today. Was there dignity for a former head of state to be removed from a plane last time he wanted to go for medicals. The former and the present were not talking and it was normal for you who should have been mediators. Even if you are on government payroll, the Ubuntu should still be there.
At every funeral that I have known there will always be a probe of some kind of circumstances before a death. And even before isambo lyamfwa. So what is this dignity story to people who are merely probing. Stop gagging people as usual. He is a former head of state, let people voice out, infact it is part of grieving