Lungu: Musonda says resolution of funeral impasse shouldn’t lead to abandonment of court case, warns against undermining judiciary

Political commentator, James Musonda, has reacted to the seeming stalemate that arose as government and the family of the late President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, negotiated the impasse surrounding his funeral and burial.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Musonda said both parties should be commended for reaching a consensus that reflected a win-win outcome, bringing closure to a matter of national importance.

“It is a commendable job because Zambians needed closure. They needed peace of mind to mourn our former President,” he said.

Musonda noted that the negotiating teams had responded to public expectations by concluding arrangements on the repatriation, funeral, and burial of the late leader.

However, he cautioned that the agreement should not be used to interfere with or undermine any ongoing judicial processes.

“There shouldn’t be a situation where the Lungu funeral is used to undermine justice. The Lungu family deserves justice for the accusations that have been made against them, and the Zambian people deserve justice for any wrongdoing committed,” he said.

He added that any such agreement should be aligned with legal processes, warning that deviation could raise concerns about judicial independence.

“My hope is that while we bring closure to the funeral and related debates, we do not undermine the judicial process. When people are brought before the courts, they are given the opportunity to clear their names if they are being treated unfairly,” he said.

Musonda further stated that if the government finds no merit in the cases against the Lungu family, it would be appropriate to discontinue such matters.

Meanwhile, during a joint press briefing in Pretoria, South Africa, family spokesperson Makebi Zulu announced that the remains of the late president would arrive in Zambia on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Zulu also refuted claims that the family had demanded the state drop legal cases involving some of its members, clarifying that no such requests were made during the negotiations.

At the same briefing, Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said President Hakainde Hichilema had extended the national mourning period by nine days to give Zambians more time to pay their respects to the former president.

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