After nearly two weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Zambia has finalized funeral plans for former President Edgar Lungu, who died at age 68 in South Africa, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. Lungu’s death triggered a period of uncertainty, complicated by reports that he had instructed his family and aides to bar current President Hakainde Hichilema—his longtime political rival—from attending or participating in his funeral. However, in a significant turn of events, President Hichilema has agreed to preside over a full state funeral, scheduled for Sunday.
Lungu’s body is expected to arrive in Lusaka on Wednesday. A three-day period of national mourning and public viewing will follow, culminating in a military honors ceremony and burial next Monday. Authorities have yet to confirm whether he will be laid to rest at the Presidential Burial Site or at his personal residence.
Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021 after succeeding the late Michael Sata. He was re-elected in 2016 but was defeated by Hichilema in 2021. Though barred from running again due to constitutional term limits, Lungu remained an influential figure in Zambian politics, frequently criticizing Hichilema’s administration and suggesting a political comeback before his health deteriorated. The resolution to honor Lungu with a state funeral, despite political tensions, is being viewed as a rare moment of unity in Zambia’s often polarized political landscape.
