Zambia faces a bitter fight over a former president's funeral that shows how deep political hatred can go. Edgar Lungu died last month and his family refuses to let current President Hakainde Hichilema attend the burial service. The 68-year-old leader made it clear before he passed away that he wanted his rival to stay far from his body. Both men despised each other after years of nasty political battles. The government had to cancel plans for a big state funeral because the family would not cooperate.
The bad blood started when Hichilema spent over 100 days in jail on treason charges back in 2017. Police arrested him after his convoy allegedly refused to move aside for Lungu's presidential motorcade. Hichilema claims Lungu personally ordered his imprisonment and kept him locked up without basic needs like water or electricity. The opposition leader got arrested 17 times during those difficult years. His supporters also faced harassment from government backers.
Lungu lost the 2021 election badly and went into retirement for a couple years. He decided to return to active politics in 2023 when people grew unhappy with the new government. Officials immediately took away his retirement money and benefits as punishment. The former president complained that police followed him everywhere and even stopped him from jogging. Courts later ruled he could never run for president again because he already served two terms. The family will bury Lungu in South Africa instead of having a proper ceremony at home.
The bad blood started when Hichilema spent over 100 days in jail on treason charges back in 2017. Police arrested him after his convoy allegedly refused to move aside for Lungu's presidential motorcade. Hichilema claims Lungu personally ordered his imprisonment and kept him locked up without basic needs like water or electricity. The opposition leader got arrested 17 times during those difficult years. His supporters also faced harassment from government backers.
Lungu lost the 2021 election badly and went into retirement for a couple years. He decided to return to active politics in 2023 when people grew unhappy with the new government. Officials immediately took away his retirement money and benefits as punishment. The former president complained that police followed him everywhere and even stopped him from jogging. Courts later ruled he could never run for president again because he already served two terms. The family will bury Lungu in South Africa instead of having a proper ceremony at home.
