The family of the late former Zambian president Edgar Lungu says his body is being treated like public property, even when state benefits were withdrawn from him while still alive.
The legal tug-of-war between the Lungu family and the Zambian government over who has the right to oversee the burial has continued since his death on 5 June.
The family is awaiting a Pretoria High Court judgement scheduled for Friday at 11h30 on his final resting place.
The Lungu family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, told Desert FM on Thursday that all the family wants is for his body to rest in peace.
“It has been 63 painful days since the passing of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, and still, he has not been buried,” Zulu said.
He added that in African tradition, burial normally happens within three to seven days. He said the emotional toll of the prolonged legal dispute is beginning to show.
According to Zulu, the state has treated Lungu like “government property,” despite the fact that all official benefits were stripped from him last year, effectively reducing him to the status of a private citizen.
One of the most contentious issues is Lungu’s reported wish that president Hakainde Hichilema not attend his funeral. Zulu said this request is rooted in a long history of political victimisation.
Lungu, after leaving office, was blocked from travel, prevented from attending church services, and even denied urgent medical trips abroad.
“Even his wife was arrested,” Zulu revealed. “Police nearly broke down their gate. His children were accused of possessing property allegedly linked to crime. It’s been a pattern of persecution.”
Lungu himself had offered to testify in court to prove his wife’s innocence, but the court refused to admit his testimony.
Despite two attempts to engage directly with president Hichilema, Zulu said the relationship remained cold and unresolved, leading the family to fear that any state-run funeral would be a mockery of Lungu’s final wishes.
“They would want to bury him in dignity and privacy, just as he desired.”
He said the family is aware of the drama.
“Everyone in Zambia knows what is happening,” Zulu said. “You cannot claim to own a man’s body just because he was once president.”
Attempts to engage with Hichilema’s office were made early on, Zulu explained, but were ignored.
“From the moment the family returned to Zambia, they knew the state would try to take over the entire process.” Zulu said.
If the court rules in their favour, the Lungu family plans a simple, private ceremony.
“That would be dignified. That would feel right,” Zulu said.
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