Locked and Frozen in Space: The Sad Tale of Zambia’s Sixth President Edgar Lungu’s 69th Birthday

🗓️ November 12, 2025 | ✍️ By Amb. Anthony Mukwita | 📍 Pretoria & Lusaka

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Ambassador Anthony Mukwita reflects on the chilling reality surrounding the 69th birthday of Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia’s sixth Republican President — a day marked not by celebration, but by silence, sorrow, and the cold hum of a Pretoria mortuary fridge.

Born on 11th November to Padule Saili Lungu and Tasila Jere, the former head of state now lies entombed in sub-zero temperatures, his six-foot frame stretched inside a seven-foot steel chamber. There is no cake, no laughter, no dance — only stillness. The once vibrant leader rests in ice, surrounded by questions, politics, and grief.

Madame Esther Nyawa Lungu, the widow of the late President, continues to mourn deeply. It has been over five months since his passing on June 5, 2025 in Pretoria. His final wish — to be buried in Johannesburg — was halted by a court order obtained by the Zambian government, leaving his remains trapped in bureaucratic limbo.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4

From Chimwemwe to State House

From the dusty mining township of Chimwemwe to the corridors of State House, Lungu’s story was one of humility, faith, and endurance. Six months before President Michael Sata’s death, Lungu was not seen as a successor — yet destiny had other plans.

President Sata, perhaps prophetically, entrusted him with Justice, Defence, and Home Affairs portfolios. When Sata died, Lungu rose not with arrogance but quiet resolve — echoing King Solomon’s wisdom of choosing peace over power.

A President of Quiet Strength

Edgar Lungu governed with gospel hymns in his heart and humility in his gait. He expanded Zambia’s infrastructure, from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to the Kazungula Bridge, and strengthened international ties with China, the U.S., and Europe.

Known for his sharp wit and calm demeanor, he once remarked, “I may speak with a small voice, but I carry a huge stick. I can fall on you like a tonne of bricks if you fall out of line.”

Yet, compassion defined him. “The problem with you Zambians,” he once told advisers, “is you love bloodletting. Everyone deserves a second chance. Even referees show a yellow card before the red.”

A Frozen Rest, a Cry for Closure

Today, his body remains locked in a refrigerated vault, awaiting resolution between family and state. This is not rest — it is punishment. Even in death, the former President’s spirit seems to whisper: “Let me go. Let me rest. Let me be buried, not stored.”

As Zambia remembers his 69th birthday, there is no celebration, only reflection. No music, only memories. No warmth, only whispers to the cold: “Merci, Ba Edgar. Repose en paix.”

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

The Literary President

Once, when asked who he resembled in literature, Lungu referenced George Orwell’s Animal Farm, identifying with “Boxer,” the loyal cart-horse whose motto was “I will work harder.” “I seek to work harder for Zambia,” Lungu said, “without asking for a reward.”

In his words lay quiet wisdom and an awareness of betrayal — that sometimes, loyalty itself is what breaks a man.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and a nation yearning for closure. As Ambassador Mukwita concludes, “Happy 69th birthday, Baba Lungu. Long live.”

Amb. Anthony Mukwita is the author of Against All Odds — the official biography of President Edgar Lungu, available at Bookworld and Amazon.

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