LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-The announcement that former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu will be laid to rest in South Africa has sparked widespread reactions across the country.
Citizens have expressed a range of emotions, from support for the family’s decision to deep disappointment over the denial of a national farewell.
Prominent historian Professor Bizeck Phiri has added his voice to the national conversation, stating that the family of the sixth Republican President will one day regret the decision to bury him outside Zambia.
In an interview, Prof Phiri described the decision as regrettable, emphasizing that it has deprived Zambians of the opportunity to pay their last respects to their former leader.
“Going by what is being said in the media, this whole thing is political,” he observed.
He further noted that it is unprecedented for a former head of state to be buried in another country, particularly when they were not in exile.
Prof Phiri explained that such a decision would have been understandable only if Mr. Lungu had died while living in exile.
He emphasized that Mr. Lungu was not just a family figure, but a national leader who served the people of Zambia.
“It is sad that that decision has been reached when we had hoped that despite the differences, parties involved in the consultations would have put aside their differences for the sake of unity,” he said.
According to Prof Phiri, the decision appears to have been made unilaterally by the family, but the consequences may haunt them in the future.
His remarks echo the sentiment of many Zambians who believe that a leader of Mr. Lungu’s stature deserved a dignified and national farewell on Zambian soil.
The debate continues to draw attention as more voices weigh in on what many see as a missed opportunity for national reconciliation and closure.
