Lungu family wins backing over ‘foreign’ burial
By Thandizo Banda
OPPOSITION political parties have overwhelmingly thrown their weight behind the decision by the family of late former president Edgar Lungu to bury him in South Africa.
Lungu died on June 5 in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was receiving treatment.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Mast, New Congress Party (NCP) president Pastor Peter Chanda noted that it was sad that a Christian country was witnessing President Hakainde HIchilema’s lack of sympathy and empathy towards Lungu’s family during his recent address to the nation.
“It is indeed sad that we have a president who is arrogant. It is definitely heartbreaking to witness Hakainde HIchilema’s lack of wisdom when dealing with sensitive national matters. How could he appear on TV only to abruptly end the national mourning in that arrogant manner,” Pastor Chanda said.
“President Hichilema did not bother to announce to the nation his predecessor’s death in a televised address to the nation in accordance with our custom and tradition, which has left many Zambians in shock,” he said.
Pastor Chanda said Hichilema’s style of leadership fell far short of the tenets of one heading a democratic nation.
“By publicly expressing his frustration in that fashion after failing to reach an agreement with the bereaved family over the former head of state’s burial, President Hichilema demonstrated to the whole world that leadership is not his trait. Or simply put he is not blessed by God to lead, otherwise Hichilema should have just remained a businessman and not being a president, which calls for more than just mere rhetoric,” he said.
Pastor Chanda said it was heartbreaking to witness former first lady Esther Lungu repeatedly leave her sick husband alone in South Africa at a time of need to attend protracted court cases in Zambia, which were mainly driven by the UPND administration’s thirst for vengeance .
“It was therefore after careful analysis and consideration of all the instances of harassment and injustice to the Lungu family and issues surrounding the death of ECL and HH’s subsequent drastic action to cancel national mourning that the family resolved to bury his body in South Africa,” he said.
Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) president Wright Musoma said Lungu’s family could not be blamed for burying him in a foreign country.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Musoma said it was clear that the first former family did not want to bury their loved one abroad but had sadly been forced to do so by circumstances.
“This decision by Lungu’s family should therefore be blamed squarely on President HIchilema. What happened is clear for all to see. It is an open secret, the mistreatment, embarrassment and humiliation president Lungu and his family were subjected to by HIchilema’s administration.
“Who does that? Any reasonable person cannot do that even to his worst enemy. UPND government stripped Lungu of all his benefits and entitlements to a fatal extent of denying him the right to access life-saving medical care which allegedly led to his sad demise,” Musoma said.
Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Raphael Nakacinda said the decision to bury Lungu’s body in South Africa should be respected and supported by all peace-loving Zambians because it was in the best interest of his family and the country as a whole.
Lungu’s family announced last week that his remains will be buried in South Africa because misunderstandings with the Zambian government which it has accused of breaching an agreement to honour the former president’s wishes.
