Rivalry Overshadows Funeral of Zambia's Former President Edgar Lungu

As Edgar Lungu’s family disputes funeral arrangements with the Zambian government, the bitter political rivalry between Lungu and President Hakainde Hichilema complicates the former president's posthumous honor.

In a striking turn of events surrounding the death of Edgar Lungu, Zambia's former president, the political rivalry between him and current President Hakainde Hichilema has escalated even after Lungu's passing. Having spent years in a contentious and adversarial relationship, marked by arrests and police raids on each other's homes, the two political figures are once again at odds over burial arrangements following Lungu’s death at the age of 68.

Lungu died three and a half weeks ago after undergoing treatment in South Africa, yet his burial remains in limbo as his family clashes with Hichilema's government. The latter has mandated a state funeral for Lungu in Zambia, but his relatives argue that the former president expressly desired to keep Hichilema out of his posthumous affairs. They are advocating for Lungu to be buried in South Africa.

Just last week, a South African court intervened in this matter when the Zambian government initiated a lawsuit against Lungu's family. The court temporarily halted the family’s plans for a burial in South Africa, stating the dispute must be resolved first. "The family only wants to give him a dignified burial, not one that is shrouded in mockery, in P.R.,” remarked Makebi Zulu, a spokesperson for the family, indicating their desire for a funeral that preserves Lungu's dignity amidst the political turmoil.

As both sides stand firm in their positions, the late president's interment remains uncertain, exemplifying how deeply entrenched political enmities continue to shape not only the lives of public figures but also their legacies in death.