PF vows to stand with Lungu family
By Tony Nkhoma
THE Patriotic Front (PF) says it will defend and respect the decisions of late sixth president Edgar Lungu’s family.
Media director Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement the PF would continue to honour and defend late Lungu’s legacy both in word and deed.
He said the PF leadership and other stakeholders had acted with honour, compassion and discipline throughout the painful period of mourning late Lungu who died in South Africa on June 5.
“We have noted with deep disappointment the inflammatory and misleading statements being circulated on social media regarding the PF’s role in the burial arrangements of our beloved former republican president,” Lifwekelo said.
He said the accusations were not only false and malicious but also deeply disrespectful to the grieving family and the legacy of a man who had served the nation with distinction.
“We are very much aware of the conspiracy to discredit the PF leadership. This conspiracy has deliberately been extended to imaginary PF wrangles fuelled by the UPND government using proxies to masquerade as PF leaders using the Registrar of Societies to malign and grab the party from its legitimate leadership,” Lifwekelo said.
He said the decision to bury Lungu in South Africa was a family matter and the party was simply supporting the family’s decisions.
“To suggest that the PF leadership failed to convince the Lungu family or had a plan to bury him in South Africa is a gross distortion of facts, laced with political bitterness and clear ignorance of the solemn, private and sensitive nature of family decisions during mourning,” Lifwekelo said.
He said the PF leadership respected the burial process of its former leader as any responsible political party would do.
“The Lungu family, in consultation with their elders and the former president’s own personal wishes as understood by his closest relatives, made the difficult decision regarding his final resting place,” Lifwekelo said.
He said to politicise a family’s sacred choice was not only irresponsible but heartless.
“PF leadership acted with dignity and restraint. Given Lubinda, Raphael Nakachinda, Makebi Zulu and other stakeholders acted with honour, compassion and discipline throughout this painful period,” Lifwekelo said.
He said the PF leadership’s focus had been on unity, respect and support for the Lungu family and not on political posturing or finger pointing.
“They travelled to South Africa not out of selfishness, but out of duty, loyalty and respect for their fallen leader. Allegations that acting PF president Given Lubinda and the Lungu family have differed over the funeral arrangements is tailored to serve the narrow interest for political opportunists,” Lifwekelo said.
Lifwekelo said the wild allegations that PF were typical rhetoric from individuals whose only goal was to undermine the legacy of Lungu and demonise the PF.
“If anything, it is those spreading such unfounded malicious allegations who are bitter, divisive and blinded by political hatred. Shame on those who would turn a solemn national mourning period into a circus of slander,” he said.
