115 ViewsVeteran Zambian politician Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika has come out strongly against Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, accusing him of turning the funeral arrangements of former President Edgar Lungu into a campaign issue. Lewanika described the remarks as shameless politics and said they do not reflect the respect owed to a former head […]

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Mundubile praying at Sinyangwe’s church

Veteran Zambian politician Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika has come out strongly against Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, accusing him of turning the funeral arrangements of former President Edgar Lungu into a campaign issue.

Lewanika described the remarks as shameless politics and said they do not reflect the respect owed to a former head of state.

The controversy began at a political rally in Mpika on Monday.

Addressing supporters, Mundubile told the crowd that he and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, would ensure the late president receives a dignified burial if the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance wins the August election.

Zulu is also the family spokesperson for the Lungus.

By linking a state funeral to an electoral outcome, Mundubile drew immediate criticism.

Lewanika responded by pointing to the legal process.

He said the courts had already pronounced on key aspects of the matter, and that the family’s wishes, not political speeches, should determine what happens next.

In his view, using the burial question to mobilize voters undermines both the dignity of the deceased and the seriousness of the election.

According to Lewanika, the timing and tone of Mundubile’s comments suggest a calculated move to attract sympathy votes.

He argued that elections should be contested on policy, track record, and manifestos, not on emotional appeals tied to a national mourning period.

When political actors attach conditions to a funeral, he said, it shifts public attention away from governance plans and toward sentiment.

The late President Edgar Lungu led Zambia from 2015 until 2021.

His death earlier last year prompted tributes across the political spectrum, as well as public debate about protocol, family privacy, and state honors.

Court proceedings have addressed parts of that debate, including questions about where and how the former president should be laid to rest.

Lewanika’s point is that those decisions are not meant to be reopened on campaign stages.

He has urged the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance to step back from the issue and allow the Lungu family to make the final call on the timing and location of the burial. In his words, the family should be given space without pressure or political messaging attached. That, he argued, would show genuine concern rather than electoral calculation.

Mundubile’s remarks come as Zambia prepares for elections in August. The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance is presenting itself as an alternative to the ruling party, and its campaign has focused on change, accountability, and national unity. Linking the Lungu burial to a potential victory was likely intended to signal respect for the former president and to appeal to voters who supported him. However, Lewanika and other commentators see it as a misstep that risks alienating citizens who want funeral matters handled outside party politics.

The broader context matters. In Zambian political culture, the burial of a former president is treated as a national moment. It involves the family, government protocol, traditional leaders, and the public. When candidates make conditional promises about it, they can be seen as inserting partisan goals into a process that is supposed to be above party lines. That is the core of Lewanika’s criticism.

There is also a practical dimension. Court rulings and family decisions create a framework that limits what any candidate can promise before an election. By suggesting that a dignified burial depends on winning power, Mundubile may have overreached and created an impression that the Alliance would override existing arrangements. Lewanika’s intervention aims to close that door.

Beyond the immediate dispute, the episode highlights how sensitive symbols can be used in campaigns. Funerals, memorials, and national anniversaries often carry emotional weight. Political teams sometimes test the boundary between commemoration and campaigning. Lewanika’s rebuke is a reminder that voters tend to distinguish between empathy and opportunism, and that the line is closely watched.

For the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, the path forward may involve refocusing on policy. Voters will be looking at economic plans, job creation, service delivery, and constitutional issues. Shifting the conversation back to those areas could reduce the damage from a comment that many have labeled as tone deaf.

In summary, Lewanika has condemned Mundubile’s Mpika rally remarks, said the courts have already addressed the matter, and called on the Alliance to respect the Lungu family’s right to decide on the burial. He characterized the comments as politically motivated and urged Zambian politics to keep funeral arrangements separate from election strategy.