President Hakainde Hichilema has announced the discontinuation of the extended period of national mourning in honour of the late sixth republican President, Edgar Lungu.
President Hichilema said the discontinuation follows the decision by the late former President’s family not to allow the repatriation of the late Mr Lungu’s remains from South Africa to Zambia yesterday despite the earlier agreement with the government.
“We have done everything possible to engage the family of our departed sixth Republican President, and we have reached a point where a clear decision has to be made,” he said.
The President said the nation cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning, noting that the country should return to normalcy.
“Given these circumstances, I therefore wish to inform the nation that as of the end of today, the 19th of June 2025, this particular national mourning is officially over,” he declared.
The Head of State said this in his national address on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television on Thursday evening.
Mr Hichilema has meanwhile thanked the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and his government for their cooperation and compassion in mourning the former President.
“We express sincere gratitude to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the people of South Africa for their exceptional cooperation and compassion,” he said.
The President has also conveyed his sincere apologies to the government of South Africa for the unfortunate situation of preparing a dignified military honour in vain.
“At our request, the South African government prepared extensively, with military honours, mounted by the South African Defence Force, who did so in vain, as the former President’s body was not availed by the family for repatriation,” he said.
And President Hichilema has thanked the team which the government had sent to South Africa to negotiate with the Lungu family for an amicable resolution relating to the state funeral.
“We also wish to thank our envoys, including our former Vice President Mr Enock Kavindele, his Royal Highness Chief Mumbi, our Foreign Affairs Minister, the Secretary to the Cabinet, and all others involved in the search for a reasonable, inclusive and amicable resolution over the unfortunate impasse relating to the state funeral,” he said.
He further thanked Zambian citizens and owners of businesses whose operations were affected during the period of national mourning.
“We thank you for your resilience, patience, solidarity and calmness during this time” he said.
President Hichilema further said the body of the late sixth republican President should be buried in Zambia with full honours because the late Mr Lungu belongs to both the family and the nation.
“In the meantime, we urge our citizens to maintain calm and orderliness. Let us remain united as a nation and maintain the peace we are known for,” he emphasized.
The President has however said government remains open for further engagement. “In this spirit, we say to the Lungu family, and indeed the people of Zambia, our hearts remain with you,” he said.
