Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, says there is no state funeral without the current Head of State, describing suggestions that President Hakainde Hichilema should not to come near the funeral of the former late President Edgar Lungu “treasonous”.
Mrs. Nalumango has also called on the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) not to turn late former President’s funeral into a political and national acrimony, but instead to allow both the family and the nation to mourn in peace.
Responding to a question in Parliament today from Matero Member of Parliament, Miles Sampa, on whether government will respect the Lungu family’s reported request for President Hichilema to keep his distance from the funeral, Mrs. Nalumango urged the opposition to stop inflicting more pain on the bereaved family but to take responsibility in addressing the issues relating the funeral.
“He was the only surviving former President and the nation needed him,” said Mrs. Nalumango.
She further stressed that government is still in consultations with the Lungu family on the way forward.
By Margaret Mwanza
