Zambian President Hichilema Faces Opposition in Presiding Over Edgar Lungu’s Funeral

The recent passing of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has sparked a heated debate over who should preside over his funeral. President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed his desire to preside over the funeral, but Lungu’s family has opposed the idea. Lawyers representing Lungu’s family have argued that it would be undignified for the court to force the family to allow Hichilema to preside over the funeral. They claim that the family has the right to decide who should preside over the funeral and that Hichilema’s presence would be a breach of their privacy. The lawyers also argue that Hichilema’s involvement in the funeral would be a political move, rather than a genuine attempt to pay respects to the former president. The family has stated that they want to keep the funeral private and do not want any political interference. They have also expressed concerns that Hichilema’s presence would attract a large crowd and disrupt the peaceful nature of the funeral. The court is yet to make a decision on the matter, but it is clear that the issue is highly contentious. The debate has sparked a wider conversation about the role of the president in Zambian society and the limits of their power. Many have argued that the president should respect the wishes of the family and not impose their presence on the funeral. Others have argued that the president has a duty to pay respects to the former president and that their presence is necessary to show respect to the nation. The issue has also highlighted the complex relationship between Hichilema and Lungu, who were political opponents during Lungu’s time in office. Lungu’s family has accused Hichilema of trying to use the funeral as an opportunity to score political points. The funeral has been scheduled to take place in the coming days, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The Zambian government has announced that it will provide a state funeral for Lungu, but it is unclear what role Hichilema will play in the proceedings. The opposition party has called on Hichilema to respect the wishes of Lungu’s family and not to impose his presence on the funeral. The situation has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Zambians expressing their opinions on the matter. Some have argued that Hichilema should be allowed to preside over the funeral, while others have argued that he should respect the wishes of Lungu’s family. The issue has also highlighted the need for a clear protocol on how to handle the funerals of former presidents in Zambia. Currently, there is no clear guideline on what role the president should play in the funeral of a former president. The situation has sparked a wider conversation about the need for a clear protocol to avoid similar controversies in the future. The Zambian government has announced that it will establish a committee to investigate the matter and provide guidance on how to handle similar situations in the future. The committee will be composed of representatives from the government, the opposition party, and civil society organizations. The committee will be tasked with providing a report on the matter and making recommendations on how to avoid similar controversies in the future. The situation has also highlighted the importance of respecting the privacy and wishes of the family of the deceased. The family of the deceased should be allowed to decide who should preside over the funeral and how the funeral should be conducted. The government and other stakeholders should respect the wishes of the family and not impose their presence or will on the funeral. The situation has sparked a heated debate about the role of the government in Zambian society and the limits of their power. The government should respect the privacy and wishes of the family of the deceased and not use the funeral as an opportunity to score political points.

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