Diplomacy, grief and ubuntu

THE passing of a former head of state is invariably a profound and reflective moment for any nation. In Zambia, a country with a proud legacy of democratic governance, cultural reverence for elders and strong communal values, the death of a past president initiates a period of mourning, national reflection, and often, political reconciliation.

- SIFISO SONJICA

Yet, as evidenced by the complex and contested death and burial of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, such events also carry deep diplomatic, legal and emotional implications. They unveil fault lines within the state, raise questions about family rights, and underscore the challenges of balancing state authority with the wishes of grieving relatives.

Importantly, these events remind us of the African philosophy of ubuntu, which emphasises our shared humanity and moral obligation to care for one another. In light of this, I found it worthwhile reflecting on the events surrounding Lungu’s death and burial, the diplomatic entanglements that followed, the grief endured by his family, and the lessons that the African continent can draw through the lens of ubuntu.

Lungu, who was Zambia's sixth president from 2015 until 2021, died on June 5, at a hospital in Pretoria. He was receiving treatment for a rare esophageal condition when complications from surgery resulted in his death. In response, the Zambian government declared a seven-day period of national mourning, which was later extended by an additional nine days. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and a state funeral was planned in Lusaka, in line with national customs and protocols for former presidents.

However, what was intended to be a respectful and unifying national homage quickly turned into a diplomatic dispute. A private family service was scheduled in Johannesburg, but the Pretoria High Court, acting on a request from the Zambian Attorney General, stopped the burial, asserting that Lungu, as a former head of state, was both legally and symbolically a representative of the Zambian nation and therefore deserved a state burial in his homeland.