Zambia’s Bitter Presidential Feud: Hichilema and Lungu’s Legacy of Animosity

The personal has become very political in Zambia. The mourning and build-up to a funeral are never easy times, but throw in the fallout from a long-standing feud between the country’s two top politicians – President Hakainde Hichilema and his now-late predecessor Edgar Lungu – and you have an explosive mix. The animosity was such that Lungu’s family said one of his dying wishes was that Hichilema should not go anywhere near his body. This request has sparked a chain of events that has denied the nation the opportunity to pay its last respects to a man who once ruled them.

The History of the Feud

The key to understanding this bitter feud is the more than 100 days that Hichilema, opposition leader at the time, spent in detention in 2017, awaiting trial on treason charges. He was accused of endangering the life of then-President Lungu after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the one transporting the head of state. The charges were only dropped after the intervention of the secretary general of the Commonwealth. Later that year, Hichilema told the BBC that he had been held in solitary confinement for the first eight days in degrading and inhumane conditions “without electricity, without water, without a toilet”. He blamed Lungu personally for his imprisonment.

Supporters’ Harassment and Corruption Allegations

This was only one of 17 occasions that Hichilema was arrested. Supporters of his United Party for National Development were also harassed by supporters of the governing Patriotic Front (PF). The 2021 election could have drawn a line under things, but as disillusionment with the Hichilema presidency grew because of continued economic hardships, Lungu sensed an opportunity and announced in October 2023 that he was returning to frontline politics. Soon after that announcement, Lungu was stripped of his retirement benefits and privileges by the state as he had returned to active politics. This decision rankled with the former president and his family.

Some key points about the feud include:
* Hichilema spent over 100 days in detention in 2017 awaiting trial on treason charges
* Lungu was accused of ordering Hichilema’s imprisonment
* Hichilema blamed Lungu for his imprisonment and the harassment of his supporters
* Lungu’s supporters also faced harassment and intimidation
* The feud has been marked by allegations of corruption and abuse of power

Legacy of Animosity

The death of Edgar Lungu has exposed the deep-seated animosity between him and his successor, Hakainde Hichilema. The row has scuppered government plans to honor the former head of state, created a distressing rift in the country, and left people wondering how things got this bad. As the nation mourns, the question on everyone’s mind is: can Zambia ever move on from this bitter presidential feud? According to Makebi Zulu, the family’s lawyer, “There was no love between the two men and [Lungu] was of the view that: ‘I don’t want people to pretend in my death that they cared about me when in fact, not'”.

Failed Reconciliation Efforts

Following Lungu’s death, the family wanted to be in charge of the funeral arrangements, but the Zambian authorities sought to take control. Despite the ill-feeling, last weekend it looked like a compromise had been reached and plans were made for a state funeral. However, relations once again broke down as the family said the government had reneged on the agreement after releasing a program showing more involvement by Hichilema than had been planned. With that, the funeral arrangements in Zambia were put on hold, and the national period of mourning was abruptly cut short.

Some relevant quotes from key figures include:
* “There was no love between the two men” – Makebi Zulu, Lungu’s family lawyer
* “I don’t want people to pretend in my death that they cared about me when in fact, not” – Edgar Lungu
* “We invoke the spirit of ‘One Zambia, One Nation'” – Tasila Lungu, Lungu’s daughter

Conclusion

The bitter presidential feud between Hichilema and Lungu has left Zambia in a state of uncertainty and division. As the nation mourns the death of its former president, it is clear that the legacy of animosity between the two men will take a long time to heal. The question on everyone’s mind is: can Zambia ever move on from this bitter presidential feud? Only time will tell.

Keywords: Zambia, Hichilema, Lungu, Presidential Feud, Corruption, Abuse of Power, Treason Charges, Solitary Confinement, Harassment, Intimidation, Retirement Benefits, Privileges, State Funeral, National Mourning, Reconciliation Efforts

Hashtags: #Zambia #Hichilema #Lungu #PresidentialFeud #Corruption #AbuseOfPower #TreasonCharges #SolitaryConfinement #Harassment #Intimidation #RetirementBenefits #Privileges #StateFuneral #NationalMourning #ReconciliationEfforts



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