President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed awareness of the concerns of the family of the late former President Edgar Lungu, saying he is willing to engage with them once Lungu receives a dignified burial.
Speaking on the ‘Africa Here and Now’ podcast, President Hichilema acknowledged that some issues raised by the family could be addressed after the funeral. He apologized for exposing the family, the nation, and the international community to what he described as an unfortunate situation.
“We are conscious of the feelings of the family and the concerns that they have. A number of those can be dealt with after an honourable burial and we are available to do that. But we are sorry about exposing the family, the country, the region, the world to this unfortunate situation,” he said.
The President expressed confidence that the standoff between the government and the Lungu family will be resolved sooner than many expect. His remarks indicate a commitment to balancing respect for the late president’s legacy with the need to address outstanding matters with his family.
This statement underscores the government’s focus on ensuring a dignified send-off while maintaining dialogue to resolve any pending concerns.