A week-long standoff over funeral arrangements for Zambia’s late former president Edgar Lungu has finally been resolved, bringing clarity to a period of national uncertainty and emotional tension.

Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia's president from 2015 to 2021, passed away 10 days ago in South Africa at the age of 68, where he had been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. His death triggered a sensitive dispute between his family and the current administration led by President Hakainde Hichilema, who was Lungu’s long-time political rival.

According to Lungu’s family, the former leader had left explicit instructions that President Hichilema should not be involved in any part of his funeral rites. This demand clashed with government protocols, which grant former heads of state full state honours, including the presence of the sitting president at the state funeral.

However, following extensive negotiations, a compromise has been reached. Lungu’s family has now agreed to allow President Hichilema to preside over a state funeral set for Sunday, June 22. This agreement was jointly announced by Makebi Zulu, spokesperson for the Lungu family, and Patrick Kangwa, Secretary to the Cabinet, at a press conference in South Africa.

“The family apologises for the inconvenience and pain the delay may have caused, but our goal was to honour the personal wishes of the former president,” said Zulu. He also emphasised the importance of sticking to the agreed arrangements.

The late president’s body is expected to arrive in Lusaka on Wednesday via a private charter flight. It will be received by family members and granted full military honours at the airport. From there, it will be transported to his residence to lie in state.

Beginning Thursday, the body will be moved to a conference centre in the capital, where the public will be allowed to pay their respects over a three-day period. The official state funeral will be held on Sunday, followed by a national day of mourning on Monday. However, it remains unclear whether Lungu will be buried at the official presidential burial site or at his private residence.

Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa urged unity among Zambians and thanked the nation for its patience. “This is a moment for national reflection and collective mourning,” he said.

Lungu’s political career was marked by both controversy and strong support. After losing the 2021 election to Hichilema, he briefly retired from public life before re-entering politics. Despite a ruling by the Constitutional Court barring him from contesting the presidency again, citing a constitutional two-term limit, he continued to wield significant influence and remained openly critical of the current government.

In his final year, Lungu claimed he was being politically targeted, accusing the state of restricting his movements and placing him under de facto house arrest — allegations the government firmly denied.