The Government of Zambia has declared a seven-day period of national mourning following the death of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who passed away on Thursday, June 5, in Pretoria, South Africa. He was 68.
Lungu, who served as Zambia’s sixth president from January 2015 to August 2021, was undergoing specialized medical treatment for recurring achalasia a condition characterized by the narrowing of the oesophagus at a clinic in the South African capital, according to his party, the Patriotic Front (PF).
President Hakainde Hichilema has granted Lungu a state funeral in recognition of his service to the nation, Cabinet Secretary Patrick Kangwa announced on Saturday.
“The government of the Republic of Zambia wishes to inform the nation that President Hakainde Hichilema has accorded a state funeral to the sixth president, Edgar Lungu, who died on 5 June,” Kangwa said in a statement.
As part of the mourning period, which runs from June 8 to 14, all national flags will be flown at half-mast, and public entertainment events will be suspended.
Belvedere Lodge in Lusaka has been designated as the official mourning site.
The late president’s body is expected to arrive in Zambia next Wednesday.
Lungu rose to power following the death of President Michael Sata in 2014 and served until his electoral defeat in 2021.
His tenure was marked by significant economic challenges and political controversies, yet he remained a prominent figure in Zambian politics until his passing.
Further details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
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