Zambian Government and Lungu’s Family Reaches Agreement on Former President Edgar Lungu’s Funeral Plans
The Zambian government and the family of former President Edgar Lungu have reached a compromise on his funeral plans after a week-long stalemate.
Lungu passed away on June 5 in Pretoria, South Africa, at the age of 68, following an illness.
He was being treated for cancer, according to government officials who made the announcement in April 2025
According to the information available, Lungu’s body will be flown to Lusaka on Wednesday, June 18, on a chartered plane courtesy of well-wishers.
The statement noted that full military honors will be performed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport upon arrival of body.
The former president’s body will be taken to his home in Chifuema, where it will lie in state, before being moved to Mulungushi International Conference Center for public viewing from Thursday, June 21, to Saturday, June 21.
A state funeral ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 22, at Mulungushi International Conference Center, which foreign dignitaries are expected to attend where President Hakainde Hichilema will preside over the ceremony.
A funeral church service will be conducted at the Lusaka showgrounds on Monday, June 23, followed by Lungu’s burial in the capital.
The agreement comes after Lungu’s family initially stated that he had left instructions for President Hichilema not to attend his funeral ceremony due to strained relations between the two leaders.
The family also wanted to organize the funeral privately without government involvement.
However, after recent talks, both parties have reached a compromise, allowing the government to be involved in the funeral arrangements and President Hichilema to attend and preside over the ceremony.
The national mourning period, initially set from June 8 to June 14, has been extended by nine days to Monday, June 23, in honor of the former president.
