Govt breached the agreement, Lungu’s remains not coming today – Family

The remains of Zambia’s 6th President Edgar Lungu will not be repatriated today as earlier indicated due to the lost trust in government that they will adhere to the agreement with the family.

Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu told the public today that while initial discussions with government officials had resulted in a joint agreement on the handling of the late President’s burial, the family has since observed several actions that undermined that agreement.

On Sunday 15th June, 2025 the Zambian Government and the Lungu family held a joint briefing to tell the nation that they came to an agreement that the remains would be repatriated today 18th June, 2025.

The family cited several instances of unilateral decision-making by government officials, including the following:

• A June 16 announcement by the Road Development Agency about planned road maintenance on the main route leading to Chifwema, which the family viewed as a direct disruption to funeral plans;

• A June 17 statement by the Secretary to the Cabinet restricting public participation at the arrival of the late President’s remains, made without consulting the family;

• An unauthorised programme circulated suggesting the body would be diverted to a church service before being taken to Mulungushi International Conference Centre a plan not agreed upon by the family.

Zulu further explained that while the government later claimed some of these statements were issued in error, similar programmes continued to surface without family input.

“It has become difficult for the family to trust that the government will honour its commitments.

” Therefore, with a heavy heart, we have resolved that President Lungu’s remains will not return home today,” Zulu said.

The family remains hopeful that at an appropriate time, the late President will be given a burial that respects his legacy and honours the agreed family wishes, he concluded.