By Francis Chipalo
Frank Bwalya has pleaded with former President Edgar Lungu’s family and the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership to have the former President’s remains be brought to Zambia so that he can be laid to rest.
And Bwalya says Lungu’s funeral is one of the biggest scandal in the history of the country due to the confusion surrounding the former President’s death.
Bwalya has also observed that some individuals want to take advantage of Lungu’s funeral to gain political mileage, as well as de – campaign current President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of 2026 elections.
At an emotional briefing held Thursday morning, Bwalya, who is UPND presidential support system media team director general states that the motives behind the current confusion is to de – campaign President Hichilema.
He said this is deeply regrettable.
Bwalya has emphasized that Zambians should be allowed to mourn Lungu in a dignified manner and should be spared from the drama being perpetrated by the opposition.
“We urge the family members of the former President as well as senior members of the Patriotic Front and the entire PF members to do the right thing and ensure that President Lungu’s remains can be brought to Zambia in order for him to be buried in a dignified manner,” Bwalya said.
Bwalya has appealed to PF leadership to heed to the call (s) by traditional leaders, the clergy and others that have spoken that Lungu’s remains be brought to Zambia for burial.
He said Lungu was a “state property” who should be accorded burial befitting his status at embassy park in Lusaka where other former leaders are buried.
” The country is mourning a person who was not an ordinary citizen, but a President loved by the entire nation. We need to bring this matter to a closure and mourn Lungu in a dignified manner,” Bwalya said.
Meanwhile, Bwalya says it is unfortunate that some members of the former ruling party have gone on rampage issuing malicious statements with potential to entice Zambians to rise against President Hichilema.
The former clergyman has challenged the opposition PF leadership to condemn what he termed as propaganda, hatred and malice being issued by some of their’s and alliance’ members.
He stated that claims by Raphael Nakacinda suggesting that Lungu might have poisoned are nothing but efforts to entice Zambians to rise against President Hichilema.
“Our wish is that Nakacinda and others will be summoned after the funeral to answer to these claims. We therefore urge law enforcers to be vigilant over this matter,” Bwalya added.
