By 
Leaders of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) have cautioned that the prolonged impasse over the burial of late Sixth Republican President Edgar Lungu risked causing public fatigue and undermining efforts to accord him a dignified burial.
Speaking on behalf of the CCZ leadership during a media briefing in Lusaka on Friday, Reverend Ackson Banda urged Government and the Lungu family to urgently find common ground as the nation heads toward the 2026 general elections.
“We have been closely monitoring developments regarding the late former Head of State, Edgar Lungu. It is regrettable that this matter continues to take various turns,” Banda said, warning that further delays could erode public patience.
The Lungu family has accused Zambian government officials and South African police officers of unlawfully seizing and conducting an unauthorised postmortem on the former President’s remains. Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu described the actions as a “grave abuse of power” and a breach of international legal norms.
According to Zulu, the dispute escalated on April 22 when South African police and Zambian officials allegedly attempted to enforce a “lapsed” 2025 court order to repatriate the body, pressuring Two Mountains Funeral Services to release the remains without a family representative present.
Meanwhile, Banda emphasised the importance of peaceful political engagement as the country prepares for elections, urging political leaders and institutions to uphold democratic values and encourage tolerance across political divides.
“The Church stands ready to continue playing its role in promoting peacebuilding, civic education, and national dialogue,” he said, calling on Zambians to remain anchored in national values of unity, justice, and respect for human dignity.
He also appealed for the protection of civic freedoms, stressing that any actions that restricted civic space or intimidated citizens threatened democratic participation.
Addressing youth and women—whom he described as key to Zambia’s future—Banda called for increased civic and voter education and the creation of inclusive platforms that encourage their participation in governance.
He urged political actors to refrain from exploiting young people for violence or divisive political agendas.
“The youth must be empowered as agents of peace, innovation, and national development,” he said.
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