WATCH | SA military turned away! – Lungu body drama erupts at last minute

Lungu

Lusaka – Zambia’s president cut short a period of national mourning for his predecessor Edgar Lungu on Thursday after the late leader’s family refused to allow the body to be repatriated, escalating a row over his funeral.

Lungu, president from 2015 to 2021, died in hospital in neighbouring South Africa two weeks ago and his body was due to be repatriated with military honours on Wednesday to lie in state ahead of the burial.

However, Lungu’s family refused to release the body to the South African military at the last minute to protest government arrangements, including that President Hakainde Hichilema would receive it upon arrival.

Lungu, who was aged 68 when he died on June 5, was a political rival to Hichilema, to whom he lost power by a landslide in 2021. His wife and children have since been charged with corruption in what loyalists claim is part of a political vendetta.

In a televised evening address to the nation, Hichilema said Zambia was “surprised” that Lungu’s body was “not availed by the family for repatriation”.

He apologised to South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa for the “unfortunate impasse”.

“Given these circumstances, I wish to inform the nation that as of the end of today… this particular national mourning period is over,” he said. “This will allow the country to begin to return to some normalcy.”

An initial period of mourning of seven days was extended by another nine days to end on June 23, the day after the government programme had scheduled for a state funeral.

During this period, entertainment events were suspended and radio stations were obliged to play solemn music, while flags were at half-mast.

Lungu family spokesperson Makebi Zulu said Wednesday the family had not agreed to the government’s funeral programme, including that Hichilema should receive the body. He said Lungu had made clear before he died that he did not want Hichilema present, news reports said.

“It is our hope that someday his remains will be repatriated back home and buried,” Zulu said.

Lungu’s daughter Tasila Lungu was arrested in 2025 on money laundering charges. In 2024, she was detained alongside her mother and sister on fraud charges.

Her brother, Dalitso, is also facing corruption charges.

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