Lungu’s Death Sparks Political Firestorm as PF Accuses Government of Mistreatment
The death of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has plunged the country into a period of mourning and political tension, as Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Rafael Nakacinda accuses the current regime of subjecting Lungu to humiliation and obstruction that may have hastened his death. With Lungu’s remains still in South Africa, a public dispute over repatriation has erupted between the government and the late leader’s family.
Lungu died at the age of 68 in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was receiving treatment for achalasia, a condition affecting the esophagus. Zambia has declared seven days of national mourning from June 8 to 14, ordering flags at half-mast and suspending entertainment activities.
Yet behind the official solemnity lies a deep political rift. Nakacinda, who is currently in South Africa with the family, contends that Lungu’s death could have been avoided had the government not denied him medical freedom. He alleges that for years, the former president’s access to routine treatment was obstructed by politically motivated restrictions.
Nakacinda claims that after leaving office in 2021, Lungu made several unsuccessful attempts to seek medical attention abroad, often being blocked or delayed by the authorities. “In 2022, he indicated he needed to travel for his usual medical reviews,” Nakacinda recounted. “Government said they had no money, even when he offered to pay from his own resources.”
In one incident, Lungu was reportedly removed from a plane by law enforcement agents. Only in late 2024, under the watch of a visiting UN rapporteur investigating human rights conditions in Zambia, was he able to discreetly leave for South Africa. Upon arrival, doctors informed him that had he come earlier, his prognosis might have been different.
The PF alleges that the government’s current posture, leading the repatriation and funeral plans, is disingenuous and politically opportunistic. Nakacinda says the family initially planned to handle the process independently, even financing it through well-wishers, until government ministers abruptly intervened.
“The family was shocked to find Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe arriving and declaring the body would be taken back the next day, without prior agreement,” Nakacinda said. “They treated him like an ordinary person in life and now want to treat him like a statesman in death, to cleanse their record.”
He insists the family still has unanswered questions and is conducting additional procedures before the remains are returned. A postmortem has been requested to clarify the exact cause of death, amid speculative reports suggesting the possibility of poisoning an allegation Nakacinda did not confirm but said merited thorough examination.
Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, left office following a defeat to current President Hakainde Hichilema. His post-presidency was marked by legal probes, asset seizures, and political isolation. While the government maintained it was pursuing justice, his allies viewed it as targeted persecution.
Nakacinda accuses the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of harboring “paranoia” over a possible Lungu comeback in 2026 a speculation that, though unconfirmed, hung over much of the opposition discourse in recent years.
As the country observes national mourning, the impasse between the government and the Lungu family remains unresolved. Nakacinda warns that unless the government acknowledges its role in what he describes as Lungu’s “humiliation until death,” the situation could become a national embarrassment.
“The government is rushing to impose a seven-day mourning period,” he said. “But what if the body isn’t repatriated by then? Are they mourning a person or managing political optics?”
Lungu’s passing was expected to be a unifying moment, but it has instead spotlighted deep fractures in Zambia’s political landscape. Whether the coming days will bring reconciliation or further division depends not only on how the former president is honored, but on whether those in power are willing to confront the accusations of neglect, obstruction, and politicization leveled against them.
Nakachinda, lubinda and makebi Zulu, want just to take advantage of the funeral situation as an income generating activity. They also want to take advantage of the same, through propaganda for their political egos. And lubinda, has now exposing himself as a hooligan bafoon, who can’t unify the nation. Zayelo, is haunted by a demon aimed inciting people people to destroy the peace. When you look at lubinda and follow what he’s doing, you will that he is not up for good. His aim is to ignite total confusion, with a hope of making everyone a loser, ukufilila munsenga. He also knows that he won’t be allowed to take over the PF presidency, by his fellow greedy vultures. Soar grapes
Facts be told even when he was President there were concerns about his health. PF should not be politicizing his death just to gain political mileage, the same ones doing this are the ones who misguided him when he was President.
It is unfortunate what has happened but no one is to blame for this unfortunate incident on our beloved ECL. 10 years was a long enough time to upgrade our medical facilities to a point where no one should have to travel outside. Sometimes this is how God answers us for the mistakes we make, had the money that this country was getting from China gone to upgrading more of our medical facilities instead of landing in other people’s pockets (they know themselves) maybe he would’ve been treated and healed here in Zambia.
Such is life.
Ati the money should have gone to medical facility upgrading, how? when you in your era as UPND giving prescriptions to patients is the order of the day. Your colleagues built hospitals every where, made a strong foundation for you but you are failing. Even boasting of so many health workers you have employed on the infrastructure foundation left for you. Start working you don’t have time
I think there is a lot of delusion in your post. As a neutral, I can assure you that it is government’s responsibility to build infrastructure just as it is government’s role to employ public servants. A country cannot continue to build facilities, at present, the constraint is personnel and managing the health care workers to patients ratio. The UPND should focus on the cost of living, which clearly seems to be easing as the year closes.
When you have frivolous characters given too much attention. They begin to shape the character and culture of a nation.
Do you think that noise will solve your problems? As it is you are trying to recover the “family silver” these noise makers had sold.
Spolit entilted people who think being ” wanabe gangsters” and hiding stolen money is being sauve. Get a job, till the land…do something productive than moving your lips. Your pretentious pay master is dead. Just like the rest of us will be at sometime in our live. Stop overating your significance. Zambia is so much better than your wannabe ganstaism. Neither will moving your lips feed you, get a proper job.
Let the state take over but family can play a part as well.This is not time to settle scores.
Lubinda, Nakacinda including the other low life wannabe face of Zambia whilst you’re just trying to tarnish the image of the country knowingly. You PF guys in positions of power in your political party are not leaders but destroyers. You have way too harmful and detrimental to the country. You’re a collection of failed politicians failing to provide guidance and positivity during mourning of ECL. I hope Lubinda and company start sticking to what they know than their continuation of creating a toxic environment.
All those you have mentioned here have neither tarnished nor discredited any person or country but you. The toxic environment you alluded to is undeservedly subjecting a former head of state to nothing less than scum.
Zambia shall be saved, Zambia is a christian nation. We have all heard it all time after time. What surprises me or completely disappoints is the LUNACY without shame of the humans of public faces or leadership. Thats moral decay, and definitely the majority in the PF party are a great example. Patriotic Front is full Extraneous.
Typical negligence of duty. He was away to a SA medical facility for seven solid months. No government visit or phone call to check on how the former republican president was faring. It is like, in the eyes of the UPND, he never existed at all. Could he have been on undocumeted house arrest? Only on his demise would he suddenly become a bonafide property of the State? He even looks stateless than a statesman. I see a bunch of pretenders trying to take the fore who feel nothing about his passing who’s current interest is damage control
I think GRZ deliberately stayed away from ECL when he was away in SA…..
Already Nakacinda is mentioning poisoning……
Imagine if GRZ was visiting and he died ???
FWD2031
The reality is that President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) has set a historic and unfortunate precedent for our country. Zambia now stands as the only nation in the world without a living former president. This situation could have been avoided had HH shown the same compassion that the late President Mwanawasa extended to his political rivals, especially in matters of health.
If HH had a heart like Mwanawasa’s, we wouldn’t be witnessing this tragic political spectacle. Ironically, former President Lungu demonstrated more humanity—he even forgave HH for a treason-related offense. Now, he remains the only surviving former head of state.
Perhaps even Dr. Kenneth Kaunda sensed what was to come and chose to pass on while Lungu was still in office.. Hashala Heke (HH)
No worries bro, he will surely be a former head of state after August 2026. Straight forward issue with no dispute or contest Zambia will have one former head of state after the next elections. A manager at National Airports was even fired that former President Edgar Lungu was not searched when leaving the airport.
@Neo-PatriotWhat about Namibia and Zimbabwe?
If HH was a different man…….
The late ECL would have been in jail…..
From outright theft to the brutality of his caders he presided over…….
He was lucky the president has compassion and not vengeful………
HH was even banned from attending the funeral of KK…….
FWD2031
@ Neo-Patriot do some small research. Your immediate neighbours here in front of your doorstep if you are in Zambia have no former presidents, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Angola also. Make sure you have your ”facts” correct.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27
We are ALL going to die and face God one day. ECL’s day came and now he is gone. Prepare for your day.
MHSRIP
The reality is that President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) has set a historic and unfortunate precedent for our country. Zambia now stands as the only nation in the world without a living former president. This situation could have been avoided had HH shown the same compassion that the late President Mwanawasa extended to his political rivals, especially in matters of health.
If HH had a heart like Mwanawasa’s, we wouldn’t be witnessing this tragic political spectacle. Ironically, former President Lungu demonstrated more humanity—he even forgave HH for a treason-related offense. Now, he remains the only surviving former head of state.
Perhaps even Dr. Kenneth Kaunda sensed what was to come and chose to pass on while Lungu was still in office.. Hashala Heka (HH)
Went ever we say, we are only making history of our nation , Zambia. By gone are by gone. Life is want is there and we have to use it for the betterment of our great Zambia. Yesterday, we were fighting for our independence. And today is the time to consolidate our achievements if any. Zambia! Ni forward batata.
Is there a more divisive sounding name than Nakachinda in the Zambian context?
Nakachinda is not talking from a vacuum. He is sane and of sound mind. Chifumu Banda told you at the funeral of Nawakwi to start treating your political opponents in a humane manner. I see that speech being played again at ECLs funeral. As government did you did even check on a former head of state who was on self medical evacuation not a single day. Lelo ati lets mourn with dignity. Some people must be excommunicated as church elders please
Nakachinda is very okay. Audit your flawed faculties first
Samson Dube
Even without GRZ not once visiting the late president, nakachinda is mentioning death by poisoning ????
Imagine if GRZ had visited, and he died , my Gosh……
The PF would be calling for FBI investigation
FWD2031
Nakachinda has proved to be a prickly thorn in mindsets of members of his ethnic group called the BANTU-BOTATWE. Yet there are many members of this group who share his notion of One Zambia One Nation. Nakachinda speaks for all the vulnerable people of Zambia by telling the world the truth about the tyranny that has been inflicted on ECL and his Family (MHSRIEP). Revelations being un-earthed in South Africa have actually exposed and embarrassed the hypocritic Zambian Govt.
Nakachinda has proved zero all parties are at equal fault GRZ has offered help and is been rejected
so let the family do it their way ..
and nakachinda and his binos shouldnt mislead people to believe it assists seeing into the distant future clearer ???
Nakachinda is on course. You deny somebody permission for medical travel and then appear on the scene after his death that you want to repatriate him. Tu nzelu kupelebela bati
Mwansa Kabinga
There was no tyranny vested on the late former president…….
Tyranny is banning HH from attending the funeral of KK , banning HH from even going to markets or talking to any citizens…….
Tyranny is taking HH in the back of a police van full of dog Sh.it…….
Tyranny is sending caders to attack any radio station hosting HH….
You don’t know what tyranny is until you know the tyranny meted out on HH
FWD2031
Am neither UPND nor PF and my honest opinion i think PF has lost relevance completely…now they’ve just reduced themselves to rubble rousers….and i think this could be the end of PF…..mark my words…Given Lubinda is a dunderhead and I don’t see anyone sensible in PF to be at the helm of the Party……PF will end up worse than UNIP and just like UPND….after HH that will be the end of UPND…fact
The proper dunderhead is you Anonymous. If you weren’t a dunderhead you would not be identifying yourself by that name in the first place. I will answer more if you continue posting your usual jokes. Reflect and repent
And then you have misguided cadres like Matambo who says HH was arrested 17 times so he should not be rebuked for the way he handled his friend. Surely even if assuming HH was arrested 17, 34 or 51 times is that the way you handled situations. Late Mwanawasa even showed you the way on how to handle each other when somebody is sick. And why did you fire the guy at the airport for allowing ECL to go. And I think HH may have already reflected by now, it’s the usual tuma henchmen who mislead leaders and you can even see their tuma stubborn posts here
Ati the way mwanswase treated others. ??
Do you know under mwanawase FJT used to faint in court ??
He even developed a disease that made him faint in courts
FWD2031
Anonymous Is by no means the thickest plank here Who actually puts the name to the post ?
I’d add Lubinda and Nakachinda Do zero to lift Pf , Pf was surviving purely on Lungu’s past
Now he has passed it’s Bye Bye
The new name on the block is Harry
In fact HH was arrested baselessly
As much as they don’t want to hear the truth……….
And pass the blame ……., the late presidents massive unexplained wealth was under investigation…………
His unexplained wealth was, is, being treated as proceeds of crime.,…….
He could not account for his wealth……..
Suit cases stuffed with millions were being found at his connections……..
Some of his connections found with hundreds of properties………
There were active investigations going on
Now , if he was not found in possession of wealth he could not account for,………
None of those delays for medicals due to refusal to travel would have happened………there was active investigations going on
FWD2031
The bitter truth is………
ECL was not clean, he had too much money suspected as being stolen……….
All those around him were being investigated, including all his movements
If there was not this dark cloud of suspected proceeds of crime associated with ECL…….
None of of the so called bad treatment or disrespect would have happened
FWD2031
The truth is a 100 years from today…almost everyone who is alive today June 9th 2025 will be dead……and i wonder why people make it a big deal when someone dies….
This is funeral so PF should be careful with their language. The Lungu family too. “He went privately, so we will repatriate privately”. “He was suffering, so we will mourn him as such”. Are the PF so far from reality not understand that ordinary families in Zambia cannot even dream of going to South Africa? And why is there an assumption that Lungu used his own money when everybody knows that Lungu was broke before 2011? Have some humility. PF, Tonse and UKA used an ailing man for his money, taking away valuable time he should have been spending with his family.
First bury then campaign. It’s not a tarven
If they don’t want assistance from the state then leave them. Why force matters because whatever the state does now will just be twisted.
They want GRZ to drop the corruption investigations against them…….
Then they will work with GRZ
FWD2031
Tuma feeble comments from UPND cadres above very lonely. The ground has shifted wooooooooo
Ati the ground has shifted……..shamelessly based on a death. ???
Some people will cry twice, now and in 2026
FWD2031
Everything a politician does is for his or her own interest.
No matters how concern they may sound,it’s nothing but a scum.
Ise as citizens we have moved on and we have handed over this nation to them and their families to enjoy all the resources.