MY OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE IMPASSE RELATING TO ECL’s BURIAL.

12 June 2025

To President Hichilema.  Leadership from the front in this matter

The Late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) passed away around 06:00 hours on Thursday, 5 June 2025 with news of his passing reaching the nation only in the afternoon of that same day – with the announcement being made by his daughter Mrs Tasila Lungu-Mwansa (MP, Chawama).  There was an information gap of about six hours from the time of death to the announcement to the nation.

Edgar Lungu was the immediate former President of this nation and his passing should have, nay, deserved an official announcement from Government.  Indeed, when a former Head of State passes on, even if there may be no law prescribing it, it behoves the sitting President to make that announcement.

We have noted with dismay that you, Sir, merely acknowledged on your Face Book page that you had been informed of the passing and regretted the same, passing condolences to the family and the nation.

We have also taken note that the first official announcement was made by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. Patrick Kangwa, two and a half days later – to the effect that you, Sir, had declared a period of seven days of national mourning from Sunday 7 to Sunday 15 June 2025.

We have now noted that there seems to be an impasse between Government and the late former President’s family with regard to the repatriation of the remains of the departed as well as to how and where to bury him.