Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has formally ended the period of national mourning for former President Edgar Lungu, following a protracted and unresolved dispute with Lungu’s family over the repatriation of his remains from South Africa.
In a televised national address on Thursday evening, President Hichilema said the government had “exhausted all avenues” to organise a state funeral for the late leader, who died on June 5 while undergoing medical treatment in South Africa.
“Our country cannot afford indefinite mourning.
As of the end of today, June 19, 2025, this national mourning is officially over,” Hichilema declared.
Lungu’s body was initially scheduled to be flown back to Lusaka on Wednesday for a state funeral, following a June 15 agreement between the government and the Lungu family.
However, the family later reversed their position, citing unresolved concerns over the funeral programme and President Hichilema’s role in the proceedings.
The disagreement appears rooted in the political rivalry that defined the relationship between the two men. Lungu, Zambia’s sixth president, reportedly wished for Hichilema not to be involved in his funeral, a stance the family has upheld, delaying the return of the body on two separate occasions.
“Mr. Lungu was not only an ordinary citizen, but also our sixth republican president. While we recognize his family, he also belongs to the Zambian nation,” Hichilema said.
The president expressed regret over the breakdown in cooperation and issued a public apology to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African Defence Forces, who had prepared to accord Lungu full military honours.
Despite the government’s willingness to continue dialogue, it remains unclear when—or if—Lungu’s remains will be repatriated to Zambia for burial.
President Hichilema concluded his address by urging Zambians to remain calm and law-abiding during the ongoing period of uncertainty.
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