By EditorZambia
The statement by Socialist Party president one Fred M’membe, arguing that for six months after the death of former sixth president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia remains trapped in a macabre and unnecessary stalemate.
M’membe says the body of a former Head of State, someone who once held the highest office in the land, remains unburied, suspended in legal, political, and emotional limbo. 
He further states that for a country that prides itself on order, dignity, and Christian values, this spectacle is not only embarrassing, it is unacceptable.
And yet, Dr. Mmembe fails to raise the point that rather than work toward closure, the key political actors who are fuelling the drama have their own agendas.
At the centre of this political theatre stands Socialist Party president Dr. Fred M’membe himself, whose public statements on the burial impasse have shifted from concern to opportunism.
A Manufactured Outrage
Dr. M’membe has publicly implored President Hakainde Hichilema to “allow the family to bury Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.”
But the facts are stubborn: It is not the government blocking the burial – it is the Lungu family.
The government’s position has been consistent and transparent: Former presidents are to be accorded a State funeral. They are to be buried in Zambia, specifically at Embassy Park, as required by national policy.
South African courts have largely upheld the government’s right to repatriate the former Head of State.
What, then, is Dr. M’membe Protesting?
Certainly not the truth.
If Dr. M’membe were genuinely concerned about compassion or closure, his criticism would be aimed at the family’s prolonged legal battles, not at the government attempting to follow the clearly established law of the Republic.
Political Mileage Masquerading as Moral Outrage
M’membe’s sudden moral crusade rings hollow when examined against political reality.
His Socialist Party is struggling to gain national traction ahead of the 2026 elections.
The party’s footprint is small, its organisational strength is weak, and its public support limited.
The Lungu burial saga provides a rare opportunity for visibility, and M’membe has seized it.
But Zambia deserves better than politics wrapped in mourning cloth.
The Lungu family has not been innocent either. Their lawyer, Makebi Zulu, himself a political figure—has used press briefings, legal filings, and public appearances around the funeral to position himself as a defender of the family, the PF legacy, and by extension, his own political ambitions.
The result is a deeply painful moment for the nation being exploited as a launchpad for personal career advancement.
Invoking Christianity, Selectively
In his emotional appeal, M’membe asked: “What kind of Christian nation are we?” A fair question. But the credibility of the messenger matters.
If Dr. M’membe wishes to invoke Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation in political argument, then he must at least be consistent in how he applies the principles he appeals to.
Over the years, he has positioned himself as a defender of social freedoms, including LGBTQ rights—stances that many Zambians, particularly faith leaders, view as conflicting with their interpretation of Christian doctrine.
There is nothing wrong with championing human rights or minority protections; these are legitimate policy positions that exist in many democracies.
But what is problematic is the selective use of Christianity as a political shield in one debate, and its dismissal in another.
You can not appeal to Christian values on Monday and then reject the authority of Christian teaching on Tuesday—only when it suits your political needs.
This inconsistency exposes that the current outrage is not rooted in faith but in strategy.
A Nation Held Hostage by a Family Dispute
While political players shout from podiums, the dignified institutions of the church have taken a more measured stance.
ZCCB, EFZ, and CCZ have called for dialogue conducted with dignity and mutual respect.
They recognise that the dead deserve rest, the family deserves closure, and the nation deserves stability. They have condemned provocative statements and praised the government’s moratorium on public commentary.
They are right.This issue should never have been politicised in the first place.
The South African courts ruled that the Zambian government has a right to repatriate the former president’s body for a state funeral.
Laws exist for a reason. Tradition exists for a reason. Precedent exists for a reason.
What does not exist is a justification, legal, moral, or cultural, for allowing the funeral of a former president to become a six-month political battlefield.
What Kind of Country Are We Becoming?
Are we to become a country where every family dispute becomes a national crisis?
Where the death of a president becomes an election tool?
Where legal processes are ignored until convenient, only to be weaponised when politically expedient?
The government has stated its position clearly. The courts have weighed in.
Time for Closure, Not Clout
President Hichilema and his government have adhered to the law and respected state protocol.
It is now up to the Lungu family to stop hindering the process they continue to blame others for.
It is up to political actors like Dr. M’membe to stop sowing confusion where clarity already exists.
This is not the time for theatrics. It is not the time for political advantage.
It is not the time for chest-beating and finger-pointing. It is the time for closure.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu served Zambia imperfectly, controversially, but undeniably as a Head of State. He deserves to be laid to rest with dignity.
The nation deserves healing, and the political exploitation of this tragedy by the Lungu family and the M’membes of this world must come to an end.
