The phrase “It’s coming home,” typically associated with English football fervor, has found an unexpected echo among some Zambians amid the contentious debate surrounding the remains of former President Edgar Lungu.
The 68-year-old former leader passed away two months ago in South Africa, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
In the latest development of this ongoing saga, a court in Pretoria has ruled in favor of the Zambian government, asserting that in the interest of the public, Lungu’s body can be repatriated and accorded a state funeral, despite objections from his family.
This decision sparked celebrations among some supporters of the governing party, who shared posts on Facebook with the phrase “It’s coming home,” as though celebrating a victorious sporting achievement.
This response, while perhaps lacking decorum, underscores the deep divisions and partisan sentiments that have come to characterize the situation.
For some observers weary of the protracted dispute, the initial grief and sorrow following Lungu’s death have given way to a sense of exhaustion.
Despite pressing economic challenges, public discourse remains largely consumed by the repercussions of the former president’s death. Lungu led Zambia for six years, beginning in 2015.
The roots of this controversy lie in the strained relationship between Lungu and his successor, Hakainde Hichilema, who decisively won the 2021 election. However, the matter has now escalated into a dispute marked by accusations of witchcraft.
The palpable anger expressed by Lungu’s older sister following the South African court’s ruling was particularly telling.
Bertha Lungu erupted in a fit of rage, directing harsh words at Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, who was present in court.
“Kabesha, Lungu is not your father’s son… he’s not Hakainde’s son… This is really painful. I don’t want to go to Zambia,” she exclaimed, as family members, including her niece Tasila Lungu, attempted to console her.
The repatriation of Lungu’s remains is currently on hold, as his family appeals the South African court’s decision. A hearing on the matter, initially scheduled for Friday, has been postponed to Monday to allow further negotiations between the parties.
A resolution appeared imminent in June, when the family initially consented to a state funeral in Zambia. However, disagreements over the role President Hichilema would play derailed those plans.
The Lungu family asserts that one of his final wishes was that Hichilema should not be in proximity to his body.
The underlying animosity stems from Hichilema’s detention in 2017, when he spent over 100 days awaiting trial on treason charges.
The charges stemmed from allegations that his motorcade failed to yield to then-President Lungu’s convoy, endangering the head of state. The charges were eventually dropped following intervention from the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This was one of several instances in which Hichilema was arrested during his time in the opposition.
Conversely, the Lungu family alleges they have faced persecution under Hichilema’s administration. Tasila and Esther Lungu, the former president’s widow, continue to face corruption charges, which they deny.
The Lungu family, through spokesperson Makebi Zulu, has vowed to exhaust all legal avenues to ensure he receives what they deem a dignified burial, even if it means prolonging the process.
While open to a Zambian burial, they insist on honoring Lungu’s wish that Hichilema not attend.
Authorities remain steadfast that the former president should receive a state funeral, attended by his successor, befitting his status as a former leader.
The government, through the attorney general, has even suggested Lungu could be buried without family involvement.
“If they want to set a precedent, let them give us reasons why the current president should not go near the casket. And who has told them that he wants to be near the casket, anyway?” he told the state broadcaster ZNBC.
“We are ready as government to discuss with the family, we will never ignore the family unless the family just walks out… but the family has a right to say: ‘We are not coming, we are not part of it.’ Then we will proceed and bury without them.”
Zambian law contains no specific provisions regarding the burial of former presidents.
Traditionally, all former leaders have been granted state funerals and interred at Embassy Park, a designated burial site for former presidents.
Sishuwa Sishuwa, a Zambian historian and senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, strongly opposes the prospect of Lungu being buried without his family’s consent.
“Such reckless statements are culturally insensitive, undermine the government’s claims that its actions are motivated by the desire to accord Lungu a dignified burial, and indicate that political considerations rather than public interest are the key drivers at play,” he told the BBC.
“The failure by Hichilema to rein in on the unruly conduct of his officials and supporters has fed public perception that the president approves of such conduct and consequently heightened divisions.”
He argues that a public statement from Hichilema indicating he would not attend the funeral could have led to Lungu’s burial long ago.
Dr. Sishuwa contends that the authorities’ determination to take possession of Lungu’s body from his grieving family – ostensibly to provide a dignified funeral – has not only deepened political rifts, but has also fueled beliefs that the body is sought “for occult reasons,” in a country where belief in witchcraft is widespread.
Nevers Mumba, leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, which is in a political alliance with Hichilema’s party, has defended the president.
“What drives [the president] is not obsession, but a deep, deep sense of duty. Hakainde Hichilema never gives up on anything he pursues as long as he believes he is doing the right thing,” Mumba, who is also a pastor, wrote on his Facebook page.
“He fights, with a clear conscience till the end, and he keeps on refining his methods until he gets it right.”
The duration of this ongoing struggle remains uncertain, with further developments yet to unfold.
While Zambians may attempt to shift their focus to other pressing issues, the debate over whether the body should “come home” is likely to persist.
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