Who Owns a President's Funeral? Identity, Law, and Tradition

Описание: Who Owns a President’s Funeral? Identity, Law, and Tradition in Zambia

What happens when a former president dies—but the nation and the family don't agree on how to honour them?

In this episode of The Awakening with Kelvin Phiri, under the Bridges to Prosperity series, we explore the powerful and emotional debate surrounding the funeral of Zambia’s 6th Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

We ask:

What does it mean to be Zambian in moments of national mourning?

Who should decide how a former head of state is buried—the family or the government?

Why was President Lungu buried in South Africa, and what legal or traditional gaps did this expose?

How does this moment compare to the burial of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, who wished to be laid to rest in Chinsali—but was buried at Embassy Park by state decision?

This episode explores the clash between private wishes and public responsibility, the limits of legal authority, and the role of tradition in a modern republic.

✅ You’ll learn about:

Zambia’s lack of a State Funerals Act

Legal insights from past cases

Precedents set by other African nations like Kenya and Tanzania

The deeper questions around identity, legacy, and national unity

🗣 Join the conversation:
Do we need a law in Zambia to govern presidential funerals?
Should national duty override family wishes?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments and share this episode with someone who cares about Zambia’s future.

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