from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIA’S governing party has directed officials from issuing public statements on the deadlock regarding the death of former president, Edgar Lungu.
The United National Party for National Development (UPND) has given the directive, more than two months after Lungu, leader of the rival Patriotic Front (PF), passed away.
He died after an illness in South Africa where he was seeking treatment, aged 68. He is yet to be buried, with the government and the Lungu family involved in a legal dispute in South Africa over the final resting place.
Governments want the remains repatriated but the deceased’s family is pushing for a burial in South Africa.
A war of words has ensued between officials of the UPND and the PF since the death of the country’s sixth president.
Batuke Imenda, UPND Secretary General, said all communication regarding the burial will be handled strictly through official government channels.
“Due to recent developments concerning the burial of the Sixth President, Dr Edgar C. Lungu, all UPND officials and members are directed to avoid making any public statements on this issue,” he stated.
Imenda urged party members to exercise patience and await formal updates regarding the burial.
Lungu and his successor, current president, Hakainde Hichilema, were sworn rivals.
Hichilema and UPND won the last polls in 2021.
– CAJ News