…..Former Malawi president cites unresolved complexities in dispute over late Zambian leader Edgar Lungu’s final resting place.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Former President Bakili Muluzi has officially withdrawn from his role as mediator in efforts to resolve the ongoing disagreement between the Zambian Government and the family of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Lungu, who passed away in June this year while receiving treatment at a hospital in South Africa, has not yet been buried due to sharp differences between his relatives and the government over his final resting place.
The Zambian Government has been pushing for Lungu’s remains to be repatriated to Zambia for a State funeral, arguing that as a former head of state, he deserves to be laid to rest on national soil with full honours.
However, members of Lungu’s family have opposed this plan, insisting that he be buried in South Africa, citing alleged mistreatment and humiliation the late president suffered under the current administration while he was alive.
In a statement released today, Dr. Muluzi confirmed his decision to step away from the mediation process, explaining that although significant progress had been made, certain deep-seated issues remained unresolved.
He said the complexity of the dispute and the sensitivity of the emotions involved required both parties—the Lungu family and the Zambian Government—to engage directly and find a mutual path toward closure.
Reads part of Muluzi’s statement: “It is our sincere hope that space will yet emerge for renewed, calm and principled communication so that closure may be reached.”
Muluzi, who was appointed to help mediate the standoff earlier this year due to his experience in conflict resolution and statesmanship, expressed optimism that dialogue would eventually prevail despite his withdrawal.
He emphasized that true reconciliation and respect for the late leader’s legacy can only be achieved through understanding, empathy, and a willingness by both sides to compromise in good faith.
As the stalemate continues, the fate of Edgar Lungu’s burial arrangements remains uncertain, leaving both the Zambian nation and his family in an emotional impasse months after his passing.
