ANTONIO MWANZA REFLECTS ON ECL

 Today marks exactly nine months since the passing of Zambia’s Sixth Republican President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Yet to this day, his mortal remains have not been laid to rest. This is a deeply painful and unusual moment in our national life—one that weighs heavily not only on his family and close associates, but also on the conscience of the nation.

Having shared a close relationship with President Lungu, I feel personally the grief and anguish that his family continues to endure.

By virtue of having served as Head of State, his passing transcends private grief and becomes a matter of national reflection and responsibility.

However, it must also be recognised that the wishes, dignity, and emotions of the family must be respected. No family should be forced to bury their loved one under circumstances that leave them feeling unheard or disrespected. Equally, the State has a legitimate interest in honouring a former President in a manner consistent with national tradition and the dignity of the office he once held.

The current impasse—compounded by public disagreements and court proceedings—serves neither the memory of President Lungu nor the unity of our country. Prolonged litigation over the resting place of a former Head of State risks turning a moment of mourning into a source of enduring national division.

For this reason, I believe the best way forward must be guided by dialogue, mutual respect, and statesmanship.

1. The ongoing court processes relating to the burial should be suspended through mutual consent to create space for meaningful dialogue. Matters of this nature are best resolved through wisdom and empathy rather than adversarial legal processes.

2. The Government and the Lungu family should immediately appoint a small, mutually agreed delegation of respected elders and national figures to mediate the matter. 

3. An understanding should be reached that balances both principles: the family’s legitimate wishes and the State’s desire to honour a former Head of State. Such a compromise could allow the burial to proceed in a manner agreed upon by the family while still permitting the nation to accord President Lungu the respect befitting his service.

Above all, the tone of this engagement must change. This is not a matter that should be framed as a contest of authority or a victory for one side over another. When a former President passes away, there are no winners and no losers—only a nation that must come together in solemn reflection.

Let us therefore rise above anger, suspicion, and political divisions.

Let us give President Edgar Chagwa Lungu the dignity he deserves.

Let us give his family the closure they desperately need.

And let us show the world that Zambia remains a nation capable of honouring its leaders with grace, humility, and unity.

Antonio Mourinho Mwanza

DPP President

05 - 03 - 26