Zambia ends national mourning amid funeral impasse with former President Lungu's family
The late president's family, citing unresolved grievances, declined to release his body from South Africa—despite earlier agreements—prompting the Zambian government to end the state-led commemoration.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has called off the official national mourning period for his predecessor, Edgar Lungu after a diplomatic and domestic deadlock over funeral arrangements.
The late president's family, citing unresolved grievances, declined to release his body from South Africa—despite earlier agreements—prompting the Zambian government to end the state-led commemoration.
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In a televised statement on Thursday, President Hichilema said the mourning period, extended by nine days to allow for a state funeral, would conclude on June 19.
"Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning," he noted, adding that Zambia must now "begin to return to some normalcy."
The fallout is rooted in more than just logistics.
Lungu and Hichilema were long-standing political rivals.
Lungu defeated Hichilema in the contentious 2016 election, after which Hichilema was jailed for four months in 2017, accused of treason for allegedly failing to yield his motorcade to Lungu's.
The tables turned in 2021 when Hichilema won the presidency in a landslide.
Tensions lingered beyond the ballot. Last year, Lungu, who maintained a strong political presence, accused the current administration of using the police to harass him and limit his movements.
His family claimed the government initially blocked his travel to South Africa for medical treatment—a charge the state has denied.
In the wake of the standoff, Hichilema extended an apology to South Africa, which had prepared full military honours for Lungu's repatriation in vain.
"We thank President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government, and the people of South Africa for their exceptional cooperation and compassion," he said.
The Zambian government insists it did "everything possible" to coordinate a dignified burial, and now leaves the door open for further engagement with Lungu's family.
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