Zambia remains gripped by political tension and uncertainty following a week marked by funeral controversy, street protests, and an adjourned court case involving former First Lady Esther Lungu. The developments are unfolding amid heightened emotions over the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, who died earlier this month in South Africa.
Hichilema Defends Decision Not to Revoke Lungu’s Immunity
President Hakainde Hichilema addressed the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) clergy on Tuesday, defending his administration’s approach to the late former leader’s post-presidency. Hichilema stated that, unlike previous heads of state, he never considered revoking Lungu’s constitutional immunity.
“This is the first former President who has died with his immunity. I was never enticed to process its removal,”
Hichilema said, citing the precedent set by previous administrations where Presidents Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, and Rupiah Banda all saw their immunities lifted after leaving office.
Hichilema further distanced his government from the escalating row over Lungu’s burial location. “If we fail to bury him here, it will not be because this government did not want to, but because of other issues beyond our control,” he said, calling for national unity amid the mourning.
M’membe Backs Private Funeral: “If They Say Don’t Come, Don’t”
Socialist Party President Fred M’membe weighed in publicly, urging respect for the wishes of the Lungu family, which has opted to hold a private burial in Johannesburg and excluded state officials from the ceremony.
“People should be mourned by their friends and relatives. If someone says don’t come to my funeral, don’t come,”
M’membe told journalists, revealing that he and Lungu reconciled last year during a flight from Zimbabwe. M’membe thanked South African courts for permitting his travel, despite pending legal proceedings.
No official Zambian delegation is expected at Saturday’s funeral service, which will be led by Archbishop Alick Banda in Johannesburg. This marks an unprecedented instance of a former Zambian head of state being buried outside the country.
South Africa: “We Are Not Undermining Zambia”
The South African government has rejected accusations that it undermined Zambia’s sovereignty by allowing the burial to proceed on its soil.
“It should not be seen in any way as us not wishing to respect the Zambian government’s wishes,”
said Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). He added that the decision was based on the family’s legal residence in South Africa and not a political statement.
Copperbelt Unrest: Illegal Miners Riot Over Site Access
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in Chiwempala, Chingola, as illegal miners, known locally as Jerabos, clashed with police after being denied access to Sensele Mine. The miners claim they were previously granted conditional access, only to be locked out again without notice.
The protesters vandalized market stalls and blocked roads, prompting heavy police deployment. No injuries have been confirmed, but tensions remain high. Informal mining has long served as both a livelihood and a flashpoint for unrest in Zambia’s Copperbelt region.
Esther Lungu Trial Postponed Amid Bereavement
In a separate development, the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has adjourned the theft trial of former First Lady Esther Lungu to September 22, citing her travel to South Africa for her husband’s funeral.
Esther Lungu is accused of conspiring with two police officers and two civilians to steal motor vehicles and a land title deed, allegedly worth over 1.5 million Zambian kwacha (approx. USD 70,000) between 2021 and 2022. The case is part of broader post-presidency legal challenges facing the Lungu family.
Background: A Nation Divided in Mourning
President Lungu, who governed Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died earlier this month while receiving treatment in South Africa. His death has ignited not only public grief but also political controversy. The Patriotic Front (PF), Lungu’s former party, has accused the government of politicizing funeral arrangements, while religious groups have called for de-escalation and national dignity.
The week’s events reflect deeper divisions in Zambian politics, where legacies of former leaders continue to shape the present. The next steps both in the burial and broader political reconciliation will likely define Zambia’s tone for the months ahead.
Gathering and Reporting By Ollus Ndomu from Zambia, Lusaka
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