The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya, has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to reconsider his position and allow the burial of former President Edgar Lungu to take place in Zambia, even if it means not attending the funeral himself.
Father Chikoya said the condition set by the Lungu family regarding President Hichilema’s presence at the funeral, may need to be respected in order to facilitate the repatriation and burial of the late former Head of State on Zambian soil.
He cautioned that burying the former President in South Africa would be highly irregular and could set a concerning precedent for the nation.
He said this today when he featured on Christian Voice’s Chatback program under the topic, “Has the Church Failed to Mediate in the State Funeral Impasse?”.
“If necessary, the President must take a step back, delegate, and not attend the funeral for the sake of moving forward on this matter,” said Father Chikoya.
He emphasized that national unity, tradition, and respect for the office of the presidency, both past and present, should guide the handling of the burial arrangements.
Angel Kasabo
