The Editor Zambia
The continued politicisation of the burial of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu by one Brebnar Changala and Socialist Party president Fred M’membe is not only regrettable but also deeply irresponsible.
Following the decision by the Zambian Government to accept the ruling of South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal and refrain from pursuing any further legal action, one would have expected the matter to finally be laid to rest. 
Instead, some opposition figures have chosen to weaponise a family tragedy for political mileage, demonstrating a shocking lack of respect for both the deceased and the nation.
The government has done what many critics demanded. Despite disagreeing with the judgment, it has accepted the court’s verdict and publicly announced that it will not pursue further appeals.
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha confirmed that the matter now falls entirely within the authority of the Lungu family and that the government respects the outcome.
In any democracy governed by the rule of law, respect for judicial decisions is fundamental. Governments are frequently faced with court judgments they may not agree with, yet the hallmark of democratic maturity is the willingness to abide by such rulings.
By accepting the South African court’s decision, the Zambian government has demonstrated precisely that maturity. The opposition should, therefore, be commending this commitment to the rule of law rather than exploiting the situation for partisan advantage.
What is particularly disturbing is the deliberate attempt by some opposition leaders to portray the government’s acceptance of the verdict as some form of political defeat. Such narratives are both misleading and dangerous.
The issue before the court was a legal dispute concerning burial rights and family authority, not an election contest. Courts are established to interpret the law, and parties are expected to comply with their decisions. Compliance should never be twisted into a political victory or loss.
Even governance activist Brebnar Changala, who was critical of how the matter reached international litigation, acknowledged that the government’s decision not to proceed with another appeal effectively marked the end of the dispute.
He further observed that the matter should now be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the family. The key phrase here is “the end of the dispute.”
Unfortunately, some opposition figures, including Changala himself, appear unwilling to allow that end to occur because the controversy has become a convenient political tool.
The reality is that Zambia faces numerous pressing challenges requiring national attention. Citizens are concerned about jobs, economic growth, food security, healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
Yet instead of contributing constructive ideas on these matters, certain opposition leaders remain fixated on a burial dispute that has already been settled by the courts and accepted by all parties directly involved.
Former President Lungu served Zambia as Head of State between 2015 and 2021. Regardless of political affiliation, he deserves dignity in death.
The government itself has reiterated its condolences to the family and acknowledged his place in Zambia’s history. This spirit of respect should guide all political actors.
There is also a moral dimension that cannot be ignored. A funeral is, first and foremost, a family matter. Behind the headlines, legal arguments and political statements are grieving relatives who have lost a husband, father, grandfather, and family member.
Turning their grief into a permanent political campaign reflects a troubling absence of compassion.
The South African court has spoken. The government has accepted the verdict. The family has been granted authority over the burial arrangements.
The legal process has concluded. At this stage, continued political agitation serves no national interest. It only prolongs division and distracts from the important work of nation-building.
Zambians should reject attempts to transform a settled legal matter into an endless political battlefield. The country has witnessed enough acrimony surrounding this issue.
What is needed now is closure, dignity, and respect for the rule of law.
The opposition must, therefore, accept reality. The court case is over. The government has accepted the verdict. The family has been given the authority it sought.
There is nothing more to fight about. The time for political grandstanding has passed; the time for national unity and respect has arrived.
