By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
The untimely death of Zambia’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has cast a dark shadow over the nation, not only due to how he died or what really killed him but also because of the controversies surrounding the handling of his remains. While preparations for his state funeral are underway, a deepening rift between the government and the Lungu family is now taking centre stage.
At the heart of the dispute is a critical and emotional issue: who controls access to the late president’s body, and why?
Rumors of Foul Play
Although the official cause of President Lungu’s death has not been publicly disclosed, widespread rumours have emerged suggesting he did not die a natural death. In many circles, particularly among those who follow traditional beliefs, it is whispered that the former head of state may have been eliminated by individuals in high office.
This narrative, while yet to be substantiated by hard evidence, has nonetheless gained traction in public discourse. The implications are chilling. If true, some of those suspected of involvement in Lungu’s death may now be scrambling to avoid the spiritual consequences believed to follow such an act.
Spiritual Fear and the Quest for Ritual Control
According to sources familiar with traditional African spiritual practices, it is believed that those who play a role in someone’s unnatural death are spiritually bound to follow their victim in death unless specific rituals are performed on the deceased’s body. These rituals, usually conducted in secrecy, are said to offer protection or immunity that prevents those who may be responsible for the deceased’s death from following him or her to the grave sooner rather than later.
Allegedly, certain individuals in government who are implicated, whether directly or indirectly, in President Lungu’s death are now desperately seeking exclusive access to his body so that they can carry out such rituals. Chiefs, sangomas, or witch doctors, consulted by these political figures who are way up in government, are said to have warned them that without performing the necessary rites, they too may meet their end before long.
This growing fear could explain why government efforts to take possession of Lungu’s body have been persistent and, in some cases, aggressive.
The Family’s Reluctance
In light of these suspicions, the Lungu family has remained firm in their decision to maintain control over his remains. They have insisted that the late president’s body lie in state at his private residence in Chifwema from the time it returns to Zambia on Wednesday until his burial on Monday.
Furthermore, the family has made it clear that every movement of the body will be accompanied by three trusted individuals: a family representative, his ADC, and his personal physician. This arrangement is not simply ceremonial. Neither is it meant to cast doubt on whether former president Lungu is really dead. It is seen by the family as a protective measure against unauthorized access to the remains so that those in government who may have plans to use his body for ritual purposes can be stopped from gaining access to it.
Attempted Repatriation Without Consent
Allegations have also surfaced that government officials attempted to repatriate President Lungu’s body from South Africa without the family’s knowledge or consent. Zambian journalist Jona Buyoya Dingidaba tweeted recently that medical staff at the hospital where Lungu passed away in South Africa were threatened by Zambian authorities in a bid to seize the body.
This shocking revelation raises serious ethical and political questions. Why would the state seek to take possession of the late president’s body in secrecy? Why would it bypass the consent of the grieving family? And to what end?
These actions, whether motivated by panic, spiritual fear, or political calculation, have only further alienated the family and fuelled public suspicion. Why does the Hichilema government seem so keen to gain or secure access to the corpse of late former president Lungu?
Road Closures: Coincidence or Strategy?
Adding to the tension is the announcement by the Road Development Agency (RDA) of a temporary closure of Leopards Hill Road, from Crossroads Shopping Mall to 7 kilometres ahead, effective Saturday, 21st June 2025. This is the main route leading to Chifwema, where the late president’s body is scheduled to lie in state.
While the official explanation is road maintenance, critics and observers suspect the timing is too convenient to be a coincidence. The closure would disrupt funeral plans and potentially force the relocation of the body to a government-controlled facility, such as Maina Soko Military Hospital or even the Mulungushi Conference Centre.
If the body is moved to such a location, exclusive access could be granted to those within government circles, raising concerns that the real motive behind the closure is to facilitate unmonitored rituals, as advised by spiritual healers.
After the family reportedly raised concern about the sudden road works, the RDA moved quickly to reschedule the roadworks to days after the burial. If it is true that the Hichilema Government want access to Lungu’s corpse for ritual purposes, then I do not think we have heard the end of this story. It is possible that the Government may have advised the RDA to capitulate out of fear that the Lungu family may abandon plans to bring the former president’s body to Zambia on Wednesday.
Were the family to reconsider its position, this would have grave consequences on those who may be responsible for his suspicious death. Seen from this perspective, the turnaround by RDA is probably a ruse that is meant to lure the family to fly the body to Lusaka, where the military or other State actors can easily bulldoze their way and take the body away from the family to facilitate the conduct of the said rituals.
It is even possible that an entirely new excuse will soon be inverted to justify why the body should be kept in a government-controlled facility rather than at the funeral house. If this happens before the date of burial, then the public cannot be blamed for taking it as confirmation that there are some people way up in the political establishment who want access to the corpse for their own private and superstitious interests.
A Battle for Legacy and Spiritual Control
The struggle over who controls the late president’s body is about more than logistics. It is about legacy, trust, and deeply rooted spiritual fears. For the Lungu family, allowing the government to take charge under these suspicious circumstances could be seen as handing over the very dignity and spiritual protection of their loved one to those who may have betrayed him.
The fears of ritual manipulation, spiritual consequences, and political scheming are all part of the larger cultural and political narrative unfolding around President Lungu’s death.
Final Thoughts
This moment demands transparency, sensitivity, and respect for the deceased and his family. Whether or not the suspicions of ritual motivations are true, the government must not do anything that would play into these rumours, as doing so will likely confirm the growing public speculation that someone in government who may have played a hand in the death of the late president is desperate to use the corpse to postpone their own trip to six feet underground.
As Zambia mourns a former head of state, it must also confront the deeper issues his death has revealed. This is not just about Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s funeral. It is about the kind of nation we wish to be, and whether the living are willing to honour the dead with integrity—or use them for spiritual insurance.
When all is said and done, the question remains: once the body of the late former president arrives in Zambia on Wednesday, will the State go out of its way before the date of burial to grab the corpse and take it to a controlled venue of their choice? If they do, what excuse will they use to justify their action? Well, let us wait and see. We already have someone who has vowed to force their way into presiding over the funeral of the former president even when they were told they are not wanted. Will we now see the Government forcing its hands over where the corpse will lie in state? Time will provide clear answer
