CCZ URGES HH TO DELEGATE FOR ECL BURIAL
… Church mother body calls for compromise to end burial impasse, warns delay is burdening the nation
By Charles Musonda
THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to consider delegating a representative to the burial of former president Edgar Lungu.
CCZ general secretary Fr James Phiri said Hichilema could opt to delegate if that was the condition attached to the repatriation of Lungu’s remains to Zambia for burial before the August elections.
Responding to a press query from The Mast, Fr Phiri urged government to exercise flexibility and swiftly facilitate the burial of the former Head of State in order to bring closure to the matter.
“The President may delegate representation, and the nation can still accord the dignified State funeral befitting a former Head of State. The Council of Churches in Zambia has noted with concern the ongoing debate surrounding calls to postpone the August general election in view of the unresolved issues regarding the burial of Zambia’s Sixth Republican President, Mr Edgar Lungu,” he said.
He said the outstanding issues blocking the burial of Lungu should not stop the holding of the general elections as they were matters that could be resolved.
“It is our considered view that the general election should not be postponed. However, we strongly urge both the government and the Lungu family to recognise the weight and emotional burden the nation continues to carry due to the delay in laying the former Head of State to rest. It is deeply regrettable that our nation finds itself in this situation,” he said.
Fr Phiri called for compromise from both parties, urging them to find an amicable resolution.
“While this may not be ideal, compromise sometimes demonstrates the ability to prioritise the greater national interest. At the same time, we appeal to the Lungu family to meet the government halfway in their engagements. This matter must be approached in a spirit of mutual understanding, give-and-take, rather than as a contest of victory or defeat,” he said.
He said burying the former Head of State on Zambian soil should not be seen as a victory or loss for either the government or the family, but as a solemn act of national unity and respect.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Advocates of the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation, Bishop Billy Mfula, said the burial of the former head of state was long overdue.
In an interview with The Mast, Mfula said the continued delay in putting Lungu to rest was negatively exposing Zambia, which has declared itself a Christian nation.
“This does not reflect our national character well as a nation. Number one, what it is telling the world around us is that we have failed to solve the dispute. We have failed to do what is natural to do, and that is to bury,” Mfula said.
He said holding elections in a conducive atmosphere would be easier if the burial was concluded beforehand.
“Elections will happen in a better atmosphere if the burial is done before that. That would be very good. We are not saying elections can’t take place. Elections can take place as the Constitution dictates. But it’s not morally correct. It is constitutionally correct. And I beg that that view must be balanced in that nature. Constitutionally, we can move on, hold our elections. Morally, it’s incorrect,” Mfula said.
Recently, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has said he was optimistic that both the government and the Lungu family would reach a consensus and bury the former president before the August 13 elections.
Kabesha said government had continued talks with the family so that they could bury him before the elections.
He said he was not directly involved in the talks but that the Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa was in charge.
“That is the intention of government that we bury the body of Dr Lungu before August election,” he said.
